136 



THE WOODLANDS. 



Bewick says that it will attack eels, of which 

 eleven were found in the retreat of one of these 

 animals. When the Polecat finds its way into a 

 poultry-yard, it commits great depredations; not con- 

 tent with killing as much as it requires for food, it 

 slaughters everything within its reach, and is in 



THE POLECAT. 



reality the most bloodthirsty of all our indigenous 

 animals. When attacked by man, and without chance 

 of escape, it will fight most savagely for its life, and 

 attack him in return unless promptly prevented. The 

 one redeeming feature in the character of the Polecat 

 is its enmity to rats and mice. Gamekeepers gene- 

 rally condemn it in unmeasured terms ; and it is one 

 of the animals which they delight to exhibit amongst 



