512 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



small, clean-cut teeth niark.s in the neck or under the Aving 

 is proof of this enem}^" 



Mr. H. B. Bigelow of Cohasset writes: "Weasels kill 

 some small birds, principally sparrows, along stone Avails 

 and hedge rows, where I have found several carcasses, prin- 

 ci})ally, however, English sparrows. In Milton I saAv a 

 weasel stalk an English sparroAV along a stone Avail. They 

 are said to destroy some quail." 



Weasels are remarkably savage and bloodthirstj- animals, 

 but seem to feed mostly on mice, shreAvs and moles, for 

 Avhich they hunt daily. When hunting they quarter over 

 the ground nmch more closely than does the fox, therefore 

 they are more likely to stumble on the nests of birds. An 

 animal which can kill six fowls in a night, as I have known 

 a weasel to do, Avould easily kill a sitting grouse or any 

 smaller bird which it could surprise on its nest at night. 



The weasel is very brave and actiA^e. Weasels occasion- 

 ally attack even human beings. There is an old story of 

 an English girl who was found dead on a moor, her body 

 partly eaten by a party of weasels. I was once, Avhen a 

 boy, attacked by ten of these creatures. They made the 

 occasion quite interesting for me for some minutes, and by 

 reason of their great activity all but one escaped unharmed. 



Mr. John Burroughs has observed that weasels can climb 

 trees.* This makes them much more formidable enemies to 

 birds than they otherAvise would be, but, as their vision is 

 not particularly acute, and as they rely largely on scent, 

 they are likely to be often at fault. Fortunately, they are 

 not common, but I have never seen any explanation for 

 their comparative scarcity. They liaA e many young and few 

 enemies, although the larger haAvks and owls get some of 

 them. They can escape the fox by climl)ing or hiding. 

 Weasels are not often shot, and traps are seldom set for 

 them, but they are often caught in traps set for other ani- 

 mals. 



It is quite possible that these bloodthirsty, raA^enous crea- 

 tures are cannibals. Other carnivorous animals, such as 

 predaceous beetles, owls and avoIvcs, are cannibalistic. Mr. 



* " Squirrels and other fur bearers," John Burroughs, p. 87. 



