Ground Vermin The Weasel. 



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while its haunts are still more at variance with them ; 

 indeed, as far as habitation goes, the weasel lives in a 

 community not unlike that adopted by the rabbit. Whilst 

 the fitch is nearly solitary, and the stoat more sociable 

 than the polecat, so is the weasel, in the same comparison, 

 more so than the ermine, and more open in the selection 

 of its favourite places and spots in which to form its lair. 



Its nest, or place in which the young are born and reared, 

 is generally chosen in some snug corner, well calculated 

 to keep it dry and warm, besides thoroughly comfortable. 

 It is formed of dead leaves and grass, with moss and odds 

 and ends of a soft and dry nature, and, for preference, 

 is made in a crevice in a hedge, bank, the hollow of a 

 tree, between or under a heap of large stones, or in a hole 

 in a stone wall. Sometimes, having turned out the rightful 

 occupier, it will take possession of a bird's nest, which 

 may be suitably situated, and bring up its young in this. 

 The female brings forth at each birth from about four to 

 six young, and the number of litters in a year is always 

 two, and sometimes three or even four. The greater part 

 of the food it obtains is carried to the nest, and deposited 

 in its near neighbourhood in some nook doing duty for 

 the store house, but not such a well kept one as the stoat's. 

 It will also occasionally form a burrow for its nest, but 

 usually prefers the easier ones mentioned already. When 

 it does scoop out a home for its young, this rather laborious 

 undertaking is made in some dry sandy soil, and is rarely 

 of great extent. It has rather a liking for the runs of 

 moles, and will often, after having killed off the owner 

 of one of these extended ramifications, take possession of 



