NATURAL HISTORY. 237 



prove a sufficient expedient for bringing him back, as 

 there are often more issues than one, and one burrow 

 generally communicates with others. 



THE WEASEL. 



THE common weasel is as frequent in temperate 

 and in hot countries, as it is rare in cold ones. Though 

 of the same species, it is in many respects different 

 from the ermine, which is a native of the north. 



When a weasel enters a hen-roost, it never meddles 

 with the cocks or the old hens. It makes choice of 

 the pullets, the young chickens, all of which he kills 

 with a single stroke on the head, and carries away one 

 after another. It also destroys the eggs, and sucks 

 them with incredible avidity. In winter it generally 

 resides in some granary, or hay-loft ; where the female 

 often continues even in the spring, in order to bring 

 forth her young among the hay or straw. During 

 this time the weasel makes war with the rats and mice 

 with more success than the cat ; for it follows them 

 into all their holes, and prevents their escape. It also 

 climbs up to the pigeon-houses, to the nests of spar- 

 rows, &c. and commits great havock. In summer it 



