108 GAME PEESEKVEKS AND BIRD PRESERVERS. 



CHAPTER X. 



THE POLECAT, THE STOAT, THE WEASEL, AM) 

 THE HEDGEHOG. 



The Polecat, Stoat, and Weasel belong to the 

 most blood-thirsty tribe of animals in the world. 

 We write blood-thirsty, for while most other 

 beasts of prey kill and eat an animal and are 

 satisfied for the day, or, as is the case with the 

 tiger, for several days, these little beasts kill 

 and drink the blood of any number of creatures 

 in a few hours, upon which they may once 

 succeed in fastening their cruel teeth. They 

 spare neither age nor sex. 



The polecat, the largest, is of course the 

 most mischievous. He ranges over miles of 

 country. We track him in the snow high on 

 the mountains, and along the sea-shore as well. 



