Ground Vermin The Stoat. 229 



Immediately, however, that we made our appearance, six 

 made off as fast as possible into a rabbit burrow in the hedge, 

 while one on the higher branches of the tree was evidently 

 too much engrossed with the squirrel to see us at first, 

 but on doing so he took a fine leap off the trejp on to the 

 hedge beneath, and was, no doubt, soon discussing the 

 matter with the rest. Probably the stoats imagined that 

 by a little skilful manoeuvring they would be able to 

 capture and make short work of the squirrel. 



This habit of hunting in small packs, so to speak, is rather 

 a curious trait. They go about their work in a very regular 

 manner, and we have seen recorded that as many as fifteen 

 have been observed in one pack. 



The stoat will on occasion readily attack man should he 

 assail it, and they then prove themselves more determined 

 than the polecat ; but rarely are they to be feared, except in 

 cases such as the one mentioned above, as the killing of one 

 would probably incite the others to anger, and, owing to the 

 number of them, they would prove rather troublesome 

 to get rid of. 



The stoat seems to have very little dread of the water ; 

 indeed, it takes no more heed of swimming a stream than the 

 otter, and will often for its gratification take a short swim. 

 It may be as well to remark that water rats are equally often 

 attacked by stoats as by polecats, and when by the 

 former they do not often come very satisfactorily out of 

 the fight, as, should they take to the water, their per- 

 secutor does the same, and, pursuing them with as much 

 ease and quickness as if on land, often kills them ; indeed, 

 more often than is the case with the polecat. 



Q 



