Sketches from Nature. 293 



cathedral tower at Wells, it is said that rain is 

 sure to follow within twenty-four hours. Wells 

 must be a wet place ! In Germany, dwellers in 

 the country lack faith in the skylark's song as 

 announcing fine weather ; but when the lark and 

 the cuckoo sing together they know that summer 

 has come. The robin, buzzard, lapwing, starling, 

 and a number of other birds are said to foretell 

 weather changes. 



We have, however, noticed that in nearly all 

 the species named the various cries and calls are 

 closely connected with the bird's food supply. 



n. 



FERRETS AND FERRETING. 



The ferret commonly used in this country is 

 an animal of the weasel kind, belonging to a 

 large genus and having its true home in the 

 Tropics. Unlike its British congeners, it shows 

 its southern nature in being unable to stand any 

 great degree of cold, even an English winter 

 being sufficient to kill it if not properly housed. 

 This may also be seen in rather a remarkable 

 manner, as probably no one ever saw a ferret 

 enter a rabbit-hole without its peculiar " shiver.' 

 Like the cat, it has a decided objection to 

 wetting its fur, and especially does it show this 

 upon being transferred from a warm pocket or 

 bag to the damp soil of a burrow. Zoologically 

 the ferret is one of the most interesting animals 



