386 



that separate the mountains of this romantic n'gion 

 say Foxes have increased rapidly and their destruc- 

 tion of domesticated fowls, younj,^ lambs, and occa- 

 sionally young pigs, causes individual losses, estimated 

 to be from five (|5) to twenty-five ($25) per farm. These 

 depredators are so cunning and sly that even tlie most 

 experienced trapper rarely is able to catch one in any 

 of the devices no matter how artfully placed. 



TALKED ABOUT FOXES AND GOT SOME VOTES. 



Recently I met a man, who formerly lived in the lo- 

 cality previously referred to, and as we traveled 

 through the tangled underbrush, over old fields, and 

 across disused log roads, and saw on the snow num- 

 erous "signs" of Foxes, we met three farmers who had 

 just shot a Gray Fox which they were skinning. My 

 companion knew the men, with whom politics and 

 Foxes were discussed for a few minutes, then we sep- 

 arated. As the dinner gongs were sounding in the 

 valley below, we sat down to lunch at a spring where 

 a bright-eyed Weasel, in dark coat, peeped at us for 

 an instant, through the matted roots of an upturned 

 tree. 



THE WEASELS. 



My companion said: 



"If you had been ready with the auxiliary barrel you could 

 have had that animal. It is one of the smaller of the two 

 species of Weasels that we have in these parts. This inquisi- 

 tive and active little fellow kills rabbits and birds, but he 

 catches great numbers of mice, and eats insects, and probably, 

 in the course of his life, does more good than harm. The 

 other species — the Common Weasel — so abundant in many lo- 

 calities and found, no doubt, all over the State, I think is a 

 nuisance as he not only kills game but, oftentimes, cleans out 

 all the chickens in your coops." 



