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Wild Life in Wales 



commonly covered, and I have seen even that distance 

 considerably exceeded. In mountainous country, the higher 

 grounds are usually abandoned for the valleys, in winter, 

 but not always ; and at that season, a trail picked up in the 

 snow, on low ground, may lead the trackers, by very 

 devious course, to some favourite haunt far away amongst 

 the hills. At that season, a pair of Stoats (or Weasels) 

 frequently travel in company, and the course of a stream, or 

 a stone wall, is often followed for a long way. Frequently 

 the same road is taken night after night, varied according to 

 circumstances, but certain places of call being seldom 

 missed. 



The Stoat is, however, by no means altogether a nocturnal 

 animal. It seems to hunt indiscriminately by day or by 

 night, just as the spirit moves it, and, as is the case with 

 so many other animals, it may be only its persecution by 

 man that has led to its carrying on so much of its 

 business under cover of partial darkness. Even in 

 populous districts, it is commonly abroad during daylight ; 

 and in places more remote, it is so often to be seen, that it 

 must, one would suppose, spend much of the night in 

 sleep. Although so admirably adapted by nature for 

 pursuing its prey under ground, it seems to delight, too, in 

 the true sporting instinct that prefers a long hunt by scent, 

 and a kill in the open. It is, of course, idle to argue that 

 the sense of " sport " can extend, in any of the lower 

 animals, much beyond the encompassing of the death of the 

 quarry ; but were the idea tenable, then assuredly the Stoat 

 would take high rank amongst the sportsmen endowed only 

 with instinct. Like many of his kindred, he hunts as much 

 from sheer lust of slaughter as from any mere desire for 

 food, and often kills far more than he is able to consume. 

 When pressed by hunger, scarcely anything comes amiss to 

 him, though small birds, and mice, or voles, seem to be 

 preferred to most other kinds of food. When not 

 particularly hungry, however, he will, like a knight of old, 

 roam far afield in search of entertainment and adventure : 

 and he enters into the pleasures, and attendant hardships, 

 of a stern chase, with an enthusiasm, and zest, rivalling even 



