426 



In regard to its power of hunting bj scent, Tlhomas 

 Bell, says: 



"In pursuing a Rat or Mouse, it not only follows It as long as 

 it remains in sight but continues the chase after it has disap- 

 peared, with its head raised a little above the ground, follow- 

 ing the exact tract recently taken by its destined prey. Should 

 it lose the scent, it returns to the point where it was lost, and 

 quarters the ground with great diligence until it has recovered 

 it; and thus, by dint of perservance, will ultimately hunt down 

 a swifter and even stronger animal than itself. But this is 

 not all. In the pertinacity of its pursuit, it will readily take 

 the water and swim with great ease after its prey." 



T have heard hunters and woodsmen say that 

 "white" Weasels can easily detect the Ruffed Grouse, 

 which frequently in winter has the habit of plunging 

 into the loose snow, and that they destroy many of 

 these birds in snch hiding placef?. 



Audubon, ;the famousi naturalist, records an in- 

 stance that came under his personal observation, of 

 where an Ermine captured a Rabbit and after behead- 

 ing it, the fierce little depredator dragged the body 

 some twenty yards over the fresh fallen snow, beneath 

 which it was concealed and the snow slightly pressed 

 down over it. 



HE IS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH WEASELS. 



I am JLdebted to Mr. Hugh Malloy, of Freeland. 

 Luzerne county, Pa., for the following very interesting 

 and instructive account of liis observations of tht* 

 Weasel. T know of no person who has devoted as 

 luuch attention to these agile creatures as he has. Mr. 

 Malloy informs me he has captured during the past 

 twenty years about fifteen hundred Weasels. What 

 he says about them in the following paragraphs shows 



