246 Practical Game Preserving. 



contents, nor does it draw the attention of any of its friends 

 to the luscious supply. This is a curious trait in this 

 vermin's character, and many instances have been noticed 

 and recorded by others of this peculiar selfishness, besides 

 one or two which have come to our knowledge. When 

 there are no fowls' eggs to be obtained, should the 

 season offer, search is made for those of all sorts of 

 birds, and to obtain these the weasel will, if necessary, 

 warily climb any tree to obtain a nest which its surprising 

 acuteness of scent and sight may have discovered, and 

 endeavour to rush upon the parent bird should it be sitting. 



The eggs of all game birds are particularly liable to the 

 attacks of weasels, as they are mostly deposited in such 

 places as are sure to be more or less frequently visited 

 by the vermin ; besides, being in all cases on the ground, 

 they are more certain to be detected. In this direction 

 a great deal of harm must be done ; in fact, we should 

 fancy that more damage is caused to game preserving 

 by weasels than by any of the other mustelidae. 



Not only are the eggs of game birds open to the attacks 

 of weasels, but also the young {rom the time they are 

 hatched until sufficently matured to take a long flight. 

 Taken altogether, there is some long period during which 

 our partridges and pheasants may or may not have their 

 nests destroyed, and the vermin is a most indefatigable 

 searcher, as noted before, when eggs and young birds 

 are to be obtained. Creeping stealthily up from behind 

 upon the parent bird whilst seated on the nest, the weasel 

 invariably makes a rush to obtain the bird as well as her 

 brood, and unless the vermin is not quick, or, perhaps, 



