Ground Vermin The Weasel. 245 



into the side of a hill ; further, by the banks of still flowing 

 brooks and streams, wherever a more than ordinary rough 

 place occurs, or where, perhaps, a dividing hedge or bank 

 reaches right down to the water ; small fir plantations and 

 little woods having a warm and sheltered situation, and 

 that are well open to the sun indeed, to cut a long list of 

 places short, any of those mentioned as agreeable to the 

 stoat and polecat, only that they must be light, airy, and 

 warm, instead of being dark and closely sheltered. Such 

 spots do weasels frequent, and forming, where necessary, 

 tortuous and narrow passages leading to some larger ones, 

 they collect together in little communities large enough to 

 successfully cope with such enemies as they may have, 

 besides men and dogs, and capable of attacking those animals 

 whose presence in certain places may be considered inimical 

 to safety and quietude. 



From these dwellings the little animals issue, and going 

 off in batches, each in single file, seek their prey and pleasure 

 first, of course, as above noted, eggs and young birds ; 

 and in all cases a farm where plenty of poultry unconfined 

 exists will certainly be gaid a visit, and a search be made 

 for the nest of such unruly members of the yard as may 

 think proper to lay astray. The quantity of eggs destroyed, 

 and never discovered, that are lost in this manner must be 

 very large, and no conception can be formed of the cunning 

 manner in which weasels possess themselves of the eggs 

 without disturbing the hen. Sucking rather than breaking 

 the shells, the weasel which may have been sharp enough to 

 discover such a windfall takes care not to disturb those 

 of the eggs of which it cannot conveniently consume the 



