The Fauna. 6i 



wall, where he appeared to be amusing himself. To 

 our surprise he was shortly thereafter seen about a 

 hundred yards in advance, posting up the side of the 

 wall with great speed. Knowing that the stoat had 

 observed nothing to make him apprehensive of danger, 

 we were curious to discover the motive by which he 

 was impelled. Following in pursuit, it was inter- 

 esting to observe that he occasionally raised his head 

 in the air, as if attracted by the scent of prey. Having 

 apparently measured his distance, he again pressed 

 forward with increasing speed, as if forced on by some 

 overpowering instinct. Although hitherto familiar 

 with the movements of the stoat, we were not pre- 

 pared for the alacrity with which he kept in advance. 

 Latterly he seemed to become desperate with excite- 

 ment, when a brood of partridges ran screaming from 

 the side of the old stone fence right across the 

 field. This movement on the part of the partridges 

 appeared to surprise and disconcert the stoat, who 

 halted as if in a difficulty as to his future action. 

 Being by this time fairly within shot — as, in his 

 anxiety to get among his prey, he was oblivious of 



