20 THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 



mentioned the following fact, which came under 

 his own observation. A light snow covered the 

 ground, and he, having walked out to an ad- 

 joining hill to meet one of his shepherds, fell in 

 with the track of one of these weasels, which is 

 easily to be distinguished from that of the smaller 

 species, by the larger foot print and length of the 

 spring, among the snow. He followed the track 

 for some time, for his amusement, along the side 

 of the hill, until he came to the marks where a 

 pair of grouse had been sitting, when he lost all 

 traces of the weasel. As there was no appear- 

 ance of a hole, he was much surprised, and pay- 

 ing close attention to the track of the animal, he 

 came to be convinced that it had sprung upon 

 one of the birds, which had flown away with it. 

 As he is a person of uncommonly acute observa- 

 tion and strong sense, I have the utmost confi- 

 dence in the correctness of his judgment. The 

 conclusion is, that the stoat knew quite well what 

 it was about, and would keep its hold until it 

 came to the ground again, under similar circum- 

 stances with the eagle. The matchless agility 

 and comparative strength of this bold little crea- 

 ture, would enable it to save itself during its 

 falls: before which took place, it had probably, 

 as in the former instance, destroyed the life of 

 its more harmless prey." 



