294 THE STORY OF THE WEASEL. 



The weasel's nest is composed of dry leaves and herbage, and is made in 

 a hollow tree, dry ditch or hole in the side of a bank. If any one approaches 

 the nest while the young are helpless, the mother and often the male will 

 attack the intruder with great fury, showing courage to a remarkable degree. 



The pretty little South African weasel is worthy of mention, not only 

 on account of its remarkable coloration, but also as being the sole represen- 

 tative of the weasels in Africa south of the Sahara. This species is distin- 

 guished from all the other weasels by having the' ground-color of the fur 

 black, with the upper part of the head and neck white, and four pale 

 brownish white stripes running along the back; the tapering tail being white. 



I have on several occasions witnessed this animal tantalize the lion and 

 otiier large animals of South Africa. It has a shrill cry, and, secure in its nest 

 among the rocks, it comes to the entrance and sets up a peculiar moan. 

 Should a lion be within hearing he proceeds to investigate, and the moan 

 is lessened until the lion believes himself about to find a victim. When he 

 approaches quite near, the little creature retreats to a secure place but con- 

 tinues its cry. The lion after a vain search gives up the attempt. 



The weasel is very often called "wormlike," and a better name could 

 scarcely be applied to it, for anything more wormlike could hardly 

 be imagined in a hairy quadruped or four-footed animal. The legs 

 are extremely short in relation tO' the body, which is slender in the highest 

 degree, and almost regularly cylindrical from one end to the other. Then 

 the neck is of most disproportionate length, and carries the head out so far, 

 that the forelegs appear as if placed quite at the hinder end of the chest, 

 instead of in the front of it. The head passes gradually into the neck, and 

 the neck into the body. The head is flattened, and bears little, glittering 

 savage-looking eyes, and small rounded ears. The length from snout to 

 root of tail does not exceed eight inches. The tail is about two inches long. 

 The fur is light reddish-brown above, and white below; in northern latitudes 

 the brown parts assume a much lighter color in winter, so that the weasel 

 undergoes a change of coat similar to, but less extensive than that under- 

 gone by the ermine. 



The weasel is a good climber, and makes use of his skill in this accom- 

 plishment to prey upon birds, their eggs, and young. It will pursue its prey 

 over fields, in trees, in subterranean burrows, or across water. Like many 

 of the wild cats, it kills far more than is necessary for its support, and in 

 pursuance of its favorite occupation of slaughter shows an unequaled cour- 

 age and pertinacity. Its power of keeping its presence of mind under very 



