Ground Vermin-^-The Stoat. 231 



or rather, semi-solitary, the stoat, on the other hand, is 

 inclined to the opposite, and it must be observed that 

 they do not live even in single pairs, wide apart from 

 others (the breeding time, of course, excepted), but con- 

 gregate, so to speak, in or adjoining some favoured 

 spot in a wood, brake, or plantation, where they form 

 a little colony amongst themselves for mutual protection 

 and defence ; sometimes they choose a small or large 

 area of rough or broken ground in a field, more especially 

 such heaps of big stones or boulders as we occasionally 

 observe to have been collected from the surface and 

 removed to an out-of-the-way corner, or, perhaps, the 

 very centre of a field ; sometimes long rough rows of 

 such stones or boulders, along the side of a stream, and 

 generally plentifully overgrown with briars and rough 

 surface growth. Again, roughly excavated holes, such as 

 old lime, gravel, and stone pits, in fact, any place at all 

 resembling one or combining all the features mentioned. 

 In such favoured spots as these does the stoat find a 

 suitable neighbourhood in which to make its dwelling, 

 consisting mostly of the holes and passages naturally 

 formed when large uneven stones are heaped together, 

 and to this fastness will it always retreat should it con- 

 sider danger as likely to occur, being able to traverse 

 it with facility, and effectually " dodge " any animal which 

 may follow it in and which might prove too dangerous 

 an adversary. From these holes do they issue at odd 

 times and at various parts, in ones, twos, or threes, and 

 sally off on their predatory hunts. 



Similarly to the fitch, the stoat is also fond of running 



Q 2 



