THE ANIMALS OF THE CLIFFS 135 



coast-dweller from the- farmer to the clear. Again, when in search of a mate 



rabbit-trapper bent on its destruction, the polecat does not, in secluded places 



but, if report be true, the fox also is its like the cliffs, shrink from prosecuting 



sworn foe. Occasionally it even falls its quest even by day. 



a victim to the bigger predatory birds, As long as it is able to keep to hidden 



as the following incident shows. ledges it is safe enough, but where 



Some two years ago on the Tintagel deep indentations of the coast meet the 



cliffs, a shepherd saw " high by day " cultivated land and there is no selvage 



a buzzard rise with something in its of waste ground, the animal can hardly 



claws. It was evident to him that a avoid showing itself. On viewing the 



struggle was going on between the dark brown " varmint " as it steals 



captor and the quarry, but what quarry along the foot of a wall or bounds across 



it was he could not imagine. Whilst a gap a farm hand at once raises hue 



he watched, the big wings collapsed and cry and with the help of dogs tries 



and the bird fell like a stone to the to destroy the hated devastator of the 



ground. The man hurried to the rock warren and the hen-roost. If, as is 



where it lay, and there by the side of generally the case, it is found impossible 



the dying buzzard was the body of to dislodge the creature from its refuge, 



a polecat. a freshly killed rabbit is dragged about 



It need not excite surprise that the the spot and suspended above a steel 



fitcher, as the Cornish folk call the trap set on the trail. In trying to 



polecat, should have been abroad at reach the bait the polecat is nearly sure 



noon, for though usually one of the to be caught. 



shyest of mammals, it apparently be- It is already so scarce that one can- 

 comes, when excited by pursuit, in- not but fear it will become extinct, 

 different to the peril of exposing itself, like the marten cat which survived 

 For instance, when hot on the trail of a until September, 1878. 

 rabbit it has been hunting in the Mercilessly persecuted though it is, 

 tunnels of a warren, the creature will no such fate threatens the stoat, which 

 not hesitate though the sun is overhead may frequently be seen on the cliffs, 

 to follow the prey to the middle of a A wondrous sight is the progress of the 

 field that offers no means of conceal- mother stoat followed by her long train 

 ment. If driven from the kill, it will of kittens. This family party as it 

 return the moment the coast seems threads its swift way along the narrow 



