423 



very hurried and vvoudrous changes in their political 

 coats but with some of whom such change was only 

 on the surface, as their hearts were always loyal to old, 

 true and tried friends fiom whom they separated from 

 necessity, to join the ''bread and butter brigade." 

 Some Weasels change their coats, and, in winter, when 

 snow covers the ground, they are white, but in summer 

 brown. Probably sucli chianges also enable these 

 animals to obtain more easily the necessary livelihood. 

 However, in any dress. Weasels always carry death and 

 destruction to animal life about them. Their homes 

 are frequently to be found in a decayed log, tree 

 stump, under rocks, about old buildings, etc. 



HUNTS HIS PREY BY SCENT. 



Concerning his power of hunting his prey by scent, 

 eminent authorities are positive that he does track 

 quarry in this manner. 



Mr. Hogg, in London Magazine, describes how, in De- 

 cember, 1S31, he observed a Stout hunting in this style. 



"I was an eye witness to the fact of a Stout being able to 

 pursue its prey on scent." 



Coues writes of it as follows: 



"Swift and sure footed he makes open chase and runs down 

 his prey; keen of scent he tracks them." 



DESTROYS POULTRY. 



The poultry yard is frequently visited and his apparently in- 

 satiable desire for rapine is most clearly shown while on these 

 visits. One chicken will satisfy his appetite, but after that is 

 gratified he does not leave; he kills and slays without mercy 

 all the remainder of the poor frightened chickens, until there 

 are none left, and not until then does he leave the scene of 

 carnaee. 



He sucks the eggs also, leaving, in some instances, the un- 

 lucky farmer, who has unwillingly and unwittingly been his 



