THE STORY OF THE WEASEL. 



295 



trying circumstances is well shown in the following anecdote: While riding 

 through a field one day I saw at a short distance a kite pounce on some 

 object on the ground, and rise with it in his talons. In a few moments, how- 

 ever, the kite began to show signs of great uneasiness, rising rapidly in the 

 air, or as quickly falling, and wheeling irregularly round, whilst it was 

 evidently endeavoring to force some obnoxious thing from it with its feet. 





THE WEASEL AND ITS PREY. 



After a sharp but short contest, the kite fell suddenly to the earth, not far 

 from where I was intently watching the manoeuvre. I instantly rode up to 

 the spot, when a weasel ran away from the kite, apparently unhurt, leaving 

 the bird dead, with a hole eaten through the skin under the wing, and the 

 large blood-vessels of the part cut through. 



