46 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



greatly in two particulars, the tail of the stoat 

 being much longer than that of the weasel, and 

 invariably, even when the fur has changed to 

 white, tipped with black. The stoat is the true 

 ermine, whose skin is esteemed so valuable. It 

 is, however, not the British species which is used 

 by the furriers, but one which is imported from 

 Northern Europe, the fur of the foreign variety 

 being far whiter and superior in every respect 

 to that of the British, which is, moreover, not 

 sufficiently plentiful at any period of the year 

 to supply demand. A somewhat curious inci- 

 dent occurred when I happened to be rabbit- 

 shooting with a friend during the earlier part of 

 the present season. We were trying some small 

 gorse-bushes, situated on the side of a hill, when 

 a stoat was observed making away across the 

 valley. One of the party fired at it, but missed 

 it, and before he could approach near enough 

 to give it another barrel it effected its escape. 

 Some weeks previously an old man, who was 

 employed as a warrener, had lost one of his best 

 ferrets in this valley, and although he had con- 

 stantly searched and set traps in the hopes of 

 recapturing it, he had been unsuccessful. Almost 

 immediately after the stoat had escaped from the 

 gorse - bush, we observed a great commotion 

 amongst some of the dogs in that identical bush, 

 and supposed that they had caught a rabbit. On 

 one of the beaters proceeding to the spot, he 

 discovered that it was the lost ferret, which was 



