424 



husl, coiiiplelely routed as regards his eft'uris in the poultry 

 line. 



The El mine is oonimon and present in all sections 

 of the Commonwealth. 



HIS FOOD. 



From the testimony of various writers and other 

 well-infoi-med and competent observers, it would ap 

 pear as if the Weasels, although undoubtedly great de- 

 stroyers of Mice and also of Rats, are extremely det- 

 rimental to poultry, especially Chickens, as well as 

 game, particularly Ruffed Grouse and Rabbits, to 

 gether with many kinds of small wild birds. 



Robert Kennicott, in his report of the quadrupeds of 

 Illinois, as quote<i by Dr. C. Hart Merriam in the Mam- 

 mals of the Adirondack region of Northeastern New 

 York, says, in writing of the Common Weasel : 



"A more fierce and cruel mammal does not exist in America 

 than this Weasel. The courage and sanguinary disposition of 

 the panther are insignificant in comparison, having regard to 

 the strength of the two. Without hesitation, the Weasel at- 

 tacks animals five or ten times its own size, and, not content 

 with killing enough for food, wantonly destroys whatever life 

 it can. When a Weasel has gained access to a poultry yard 

 it will frequently kill every fowl within its reach in a single 

 night. Fortunately, however, this animal, even when abun- 

 dant, does not enter the farm yard so frequently as might be 

 expected, appearing to prefer a free life in the woods to easy 

 but more dangerous feasts on domestic fowls. Meadow Mice 

 are certainly the greatest pests among mammals in Northern 

 Illinois, and of these the Weasel destroys great numbers. 



FEEDS ON RATS AND MICE. 



"Stacks and barnfuls of grain are often overrun with Rats 

 and Mice; but let a Weasel take up his residence there and 

 soon the pests will disappear. A Weasel will, occasionally, re- 

 main for some time in a barn feeding on these vermin without 

 disturbing the fowls. But It is never safe to trust one near the 



