CHAPTER XXVIII -GROUND 

 VERMIN. 



THE STOAT. 



SMALLER than the polecat, but considerably larger than 

 the weasel, the stoat may certainly be regarded as the 

 type of " vermin" (measuring over all about I4in. to I5in., 

 of which the tail shares about 4in.). The stoat and the 

 weasel, in spite of the marked difference in size, are con- 

 founded more often one with another than we should fancy 

 any other animals to be met with in the British Isles; 

 yet, not only in size, but in appearance, habits and haunts, 

 does the larger differ from the smaller mustela. Rapacious 

 to a degree, and unswerving in its determination to kill, 

 the stoat is, owing to its great numerical superiority over 

 the polecat, at the same time one of our commonest and 

 worst reputed vermin. Less bloodthirsty and less powerful 

 than the fitch, it has not acquired the same skilful means 

 of killing its captives that is characteristic of the latter 

 animal, and is therefore not so daring or inclined to be 

 solitary. 



When hunting its prey the stoat employs nearly similar 



