THE WEASEL 161 



animal at once devours as a special delicacy. Birds are 

 generally first bitten under the wing, where the great blood- 

 vessels lie. By destroying rodents, especially when it takes 

 up its quarters near hay and corn ricks, the Weasel renders 

 good service to the farmer ; and in 1892, when the 

 Lowlands of Scotland suffered from a plague of voles, 

 the Weasels increased in numbers enormously. 



As the Weasel breeds at least twice a year and preys upon 

 game birds as big as the pheasant and grouse, the game- 

 keeper makes relentless war upon the miniature tiger, which 

 not infrequently hunts in parties of as many as eight or 

 nine. Small as it is, the Weasel, when incensed, will attack 

 any being which it considers to be an enemy. It has been 

 seen to fly at a cow and hang on her dew-lap because 



SKELETON OF THE WEASEL. 

 (One-fourth natural size.) 



she took the liberty of feeding on some grass which grew 

 on the stone-heap in which the Weasel had made its home. 

 A kite has been known to swoop down upon a foraging 

 Weasel, only to find, when up in the air, that the prospective 

 prey turns to a bloodthirsty aggressor. With the blood- 

 vessels under its wing completely lacerated, the bird 

 gradually sinks back to earth again, while the Weasel 

 remains unhurt to make a meal of the fierce bird of prey. 

 Many instances are recorded where Weasels have even 

 attacked human beings, swarming out of their holes and 

 making a combined assault upon the enemy. In such cases 

 they are most dangerous foes, for they always make for the 

 face and neck, screaming with rage, and biting cruelly with 

 their needle-like teeth. Upon one occasion a farm labourer 

 was beset by half a dozen Weasels, and although armed 

 with a large cart-whip, the man was unable to keep the 



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