THE WEASEL 189 



still during the long exposure. Needless to say, 

 that as soon as their services were no longer 

 required, they hied away for their lives at full speed, 

 and one could not but commend them for thus 

 retreating. 



These pleasant little adventures that I enjoyed 

 during this one summer afternoon the time 

 seemed to be all too short showed how much can 

 be seen of Wild Nature and her inhabitants in the 

 countryside by merely sitting down, remaining 

 still, and waiting with an observant, open eye. If 

 any one would profitably study the habits of our 

 field and wood animals, as well as birds in their 

 own wild homes, it is indispensable to keep 

 absolutely quiet. I once had that wary little 

 animal the weasel come and sit at my feet while 

 reclining on a sloping bank. Although I was not 

 hidden, there the interesting visitor remained, it 

 even sniffed my boots ; but simply blinking my 

 eyes seemed to send it off. How quickly they can 

 hide themselves when they think there is danger 

 near is often proved, for I jumped up as soon as it 

 ran off and searched in the grass patch where it 

 had seemed to go, but there was no weasel there, 

 nor did I see it again. 



On another occasion, while lying at full length 

 in the heather on a moor in the New Forest, 



