ON THE REARING OF PHEASANTS BY HAND. 127 



down to watch, for lie knew not wliat, perhaps 

 because it was a liot day, and he was tired. He 

 had not watched long, when, withm a couple of 

 yards of the coops, on the spot he had newly 

 mown, he thought he distinguished in the short 

 grass a small brown spot, that was not there a 

 moment before, so he sat for a minute or two 

 speculating what it was — whether it might not 

 be a dead leaf that had blown there, or some 

 other accidental thing. The mystery was soon 

 cleared up, for the spot rose to a few inches 

 higher, and the substance assumed two sharp 

 little black eyes, which turned, with the inquisitive 

 head to which they belonged, from side to side, 

 intently surveying the vicinity for danger or for 

 prey. The gun rose slowly to the keeper's 

 shoulder, and with even the cautious motion he 

 adopted, so as the better to escape notice, ^^jjop 

 goes the weasel " out of sight again — as the vulgar 

 song has it — away went the vermin, leaving the 

 keeper possessed of the knowledge he sought, the 

 way his young birds had gone, l)ut tliat was all. 

 However, with that restless curiosity which dwells 

 in some animals as well as in the minds of some 

 women, u}) came the little sharp face of i\\Q weasel 



