652 



THE CARNIVORES 



Habits 



The weasel, in suitable localities, may be found almost every- 

 where, in hedgerows, woods, among stones, in water courses, and 

 along the edges of swamps. Its general food consists of small creatures, such as 

 mice, rats, small birds, moles, shrews, insects, etc. ; but there is no doubt but that it 

 will occasionally make inroads on poultry, and sometimes attack rabbits and sleeping 

 partridges. The accusations of killing rabbits and hares habitually, which are so 

 frequently leveled against the weasel, should, however, in most cases be transferred 

 to the stoat. Indeed, from the war incessantly waged by the weasel against rats, 

 mice, and moles of all kinds, it ought to be protected by the farmer, if not also by the 

 gamekeeper, rather than ruthlessly destroyed whenever encountered. In spite, how- 

 ever, of these services, there is no doubt that the weasel does sometimes take to 



THE WEASEI<. 

 (One-third natural size.) 



rabbit hunting in good earnest; and several will combine together in companies the 

 better to effect their object. Thus, the late Richard Jeff cries mentions that he has 

 seen five and heard of eight weasels together. ' ' The five I saw, ' ' writes this observer, 

 ' ' were working a sandy bank drilled with holes, from which the rabbits in wild alarm 

 were darting in all directions. The weasels raced from hole to hole, and along the 

 sides of the bank exactly like a pack of hounds, and seemed intensely excited. 

 Their manner of hunting resembles the motions of ants; these insects run a little way 

 very swiftly, then stop, turn to the right or left, make a short detour, and afterward 

 on again in a straight line. So the pack of weasels darted forward, stopped, went 

 from side to side, and then on a yard or two, and repeated the process. To see their 

 reddish heads thrust for a moment from the holes, then withdraw to reappear at 



