OUTWITTING THE STOAT 



and birds when first aroused are dummel, or foolish, 

 the keeper says. But there is some evidence that 

 stoats and weasels can wile a bird off the bush by 

 acrobatic display. 



Mr. Booth was one of the first naturalists to 

 describe the capers which weasels will cut to a gallery 

 of excited small birds. Most watchers of stoats and 

 weasels have seen some capers of the kind ; but does 

 the player perform with the set purpose of luring his 

 intended victim, and, by insinuating himself nearer 

 and nearer, get at length within striking distance ? 

 If so, what a dance of death ! 



I doubt, anyhow, whether " fascination " is quite 

 the word for the effect the dance has on spectators. 

 Birds will show an excited curiosity towards odd 

 movements in the animal world, even though the 

 object of their attention be not a creature of prey. 

 My capering hare, espied by small birds, might soon 

 have had a twittering gallery. A wild creature in a 

 trap, or other evil plight, or fighting, will be excitedly 

 watched by other wild creatures. It is not hard, 

 then, to understand why a twirling, tumbling stoat 

 should draw a crowd. If, however, he is often seen 

 to end his capers by clutching a spectator, this points 

 to an elaborate villainy and a cleverness surely 

 without parallel among creatures of prey. The 

 thing might occur now and then and yet the weasel 

 or stoat not be dancing with premeditation in 

 the midst of the dance the performer might 

 unexpectedly see a bird within reach and grab 

 it But if we find that the dance often ends in 



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