TJie Home of tJie Wolverene and Beaver. i6l 



cheek-pouches vast quantities of wheat and buck- 

 wheat, to serve as winter stores. The ermine in- 

 stinctively discovers these snug retreats, and in the 

 space of a few minutes destroys a whole family of 

 these beautiful little tamioe ; without even resting 

 awhile until it has consumed its now abundant food, 

 its appetite craving for more blood, as if impelled 

 by an irresistible destiny, it proceeds in search of 

 other objects on which it may glut its insatiable 

 vampire-like thirst. The Norway rat and the 

 common house-mouse take possession of our barns, 

 wheat stacks and granaries, and destroy vast 

 quantities of grain. In some instances the farmer 

 is reluctantly compelled to pay even more than a 

 tithe in contributions towards the support of these 

 pests. Let, however, an ermine find its way into 

 these barns and granaries, and there take up its 

 winter residence, and the havoc which is made 

 among the rats and mice will soon be observable. 

 The ermine pursues them to their farthest retreats, 

 and in a few weeks the premises are entirely free 

 from their depredations. We once placed a half- 

 domesticated ermine in an outhouse infested with 

 rats, shutting up the holes on the outside to prevent 

 their escape. The little animal soon commenced 

 his work of destruction. The squeaking of the rats 

 was heard throughout the day. In the evening it 

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