CHANGES IN HERMIT - LIFE 



rabbit had returned to the road. When we 

 met, he seemed surprised, but he tried to pass, 

 spitting spitefully to frighten me. I drove 

 him back, and managed to keep him from the 

 rabbit's trail until it was too cold to follow. 



I expect that this rescue established my 

 reputation with the rabbits, for from time to 

 time they came into my dooryard when chased 

 by a mink or stoat. Whenever it occurs on 

 Sunday there are visitors present, who are in- 

 variably excited for the welfare of the rabbit. 



The stoat is the large weasel. It turns 

 white in the winter, and is then the ermine. 



Of all the incidents that happened during 

 my morning walks, there is one that I cannot 

 explain without resorting to a belief in hypno- 

 tism. I was on the way to the city when 

 a turn in the path brought into sight a large 

 mink, apparently coal-black. His peculiar 

 actions caught my attention first, but soon 

 I saw a ruffed grouse about twelve feet be- 

 yond the mink. Every feather on the grouse 

 stood up, causing the bird to look as large 

 as a small turkey. The mink was making 

 113 



Clje 



Hermits Wild Friends 



