THE LITTLE TIGER OF OUR JUNGLES 51 



Yet the foolish birds have little to fear for them- 

 selves from the weasel ; when they spied him out he 

 may have been hunting only a mouse. True, he takes 

 young birds from their nests on the ground, and may 

 take a full-grown bird when the chance comes, and he 

 has hungry mouths to feed in a nest at home. For 

 good reason or not, the dread of the weasel is deeply 

 implanted in birds' breasts. 



The a/ease/, whirling and <oss//)ff himself about, ever works his way 

 nearer and nearer 



The bold little hunter takes sometimes to water 

 if he thinks he may reach some bird a gull, perhaps 

 which he has seen floating not far away. 



In his turn he may be attracted to his undoing. 

 If you see a weasel, and can make a squeaking noise 

 like a rabbit makes when in a snare, you may call him 

 to you. 



One of the prettiest woodland sights is to watch a 

 party of little weasels at their play. In and out and 

 round about a bush, or a woodstack, they run and 



