104 MY LIFE AS A NATURALIST 



very considerable courage to keep such a ferocious animal as the 

 Stoat at bay. I have seen a Stoat rear at a gamekeeper when the 

 poor creature was firmly caught in one of the cruel toothed 

 traps that are set for ground " vermin," and have begged for 

 lenience when witnessing such a distressing scene. Yet, if the truth 

 be told, the Stoat itself is no respecter of persons, as the terrified 

 Rabbit displays when the former is in hot pursuit of its prey. 



Cycling by the side of a favourite wood, flanked by a rough 

 pasture honey-combed with Rabbit " runs," I observed a Rabbit 

 suddenly bolt from the hedge pursued by a Stoat. They ran 

 ahead of me as I quickly dismounted, and it was a neck and neck 

 race for some distance until the Rabbit was outpaced. In less 

 time than it takes to tell the story, the Stoat pounced upon its 

 crouching prey, caught it by the neck, and killed it. By this time 

 I had arrived upon the scene, only to find the Rabbit in its last 

 death-throes, the Stoat meanwhile slinking away. I moved the 

 Rabbit to the side of the lane, went a few yards ahead, waited, 

 and watched. This is a good plan to adopt with most wild 

 creatures, but particularly so when one is desirous of observing 

 the Weasel, or Stoat, both of which are very inquisitive, and 

 will appear, disappear, and reappear, if one has only patience 

 enough at disposal. It was not long before I heard a rustling 

 in the steep hedgeside. It was the Stoat returning to inspect 

 its prey. He came stealthily down the bank, turned his head 

 rapidly to left and right, scented the air, and then, perceiving 

 the Rabbit, picked it up as a cat would her kitten, and 

 trotted off with it along the road to its lair, a scene both of comedy 

 and tragedy, such as may be constantly witnessed when studying 

 wild animals and their wonderful ways. 



I have for long regarded the wily Hedgehog with considerable 

 interest, and have blundered against its prickly form on a dark 

 night, and watched it hunting and feeding by day. Admirably 

 protected by its plentiful supply of spines, the Hedgehog appears 

 to possess few enemies except mankind. There is just cause 

 for complaint on the part of the gamekeeper and poultry man, 

 as, unfortunately, this animal of ancient pedigree has a strong 

 liking for the eggs of Partridge, Pheasant, and domestic Fowl. 

 I have known one Hedgehog take sixteen Pheasants' eggs out 

 of a nest one by one, and scoop the contents dry in double-quick 

 time, much to the disgust of the irate keeper standing by. 



It may not generally be known that the Hedgehog is one of 

 the few animals which is an enemy of the poisonous Adder, and 



