2 32 Wild Life in Wales 



ally screaming ; nearly five minutes later, the cause of its 

 alarm appeared in the form of a Stoat, doggedly following 

 the trail. That the chase had been a long one was evident 

 from the Stoat's tongue dangling from its mouth, like a 

 dog's when heated ; but the Hare had already disappeared 

 into a wood, and I did not see the end of the run. A Rabbit 

 generally makes but a poor effort to escape, after the first 

 rush, being apparently semi-paralysed by fear, and quite 

 unable to exert its full powers of flight. I was one afternoon 

 lying on a bank by the side of a hedge, trying to get a 

 photograph of a Land Rail on her nest, when a full-grown 

 Rabbit dashed past, and disappeared amongst the long grass 

 in the field below me. It was evident that it was pursued, 

 and, suspecting a Stoat, I hastily turned the camera on to 

 the track ; but before it could be focussed, the Stoat had 

 passed, so intent upon his prey that my presence was 

 unnoticed. A large field, divided by a rail so as to preserve 

 one half of it for hay, lay below me, and I was able to 

 follow the whole run from where I sat. The Rabbit had 

 taken refuge in the hay, and had evidently stopped to listen 

 for the approach of its foe, for the Stoat had not gone far 

 when the commotion in the grass showed the Rabbit's flight. 

 For perhaps a hundred yards it kept to the hay, the Stoat 

 following not very far behind, then it came into the open, 

 ran twenty yards or so, and squatted near a cow. When 

 the Stoat appeared in sight it started off again, but in a very 

 feeble manner, at the same time beginning to squeal, and, 

 breaking from scent to view, the Stoat was instantly upon it, 

 and administered the coup de grace by a bite behind the ears. 

 The kill had taken place quite near a farm-steading ; and 

 some poultry, attracted by the noise, came cackling up to 

 see what was the matter, one old hen advancing so near, 

 that the Stoat, leaving the Rabbit, made a jump at her, when 

 she took to flight across a pool of water, and the others 

 withdrew, cackling as they went, leaving the Stoat to make 

 his meal, which he proceeded to do on the spot. 



The cliff above Llyn Lliwbran is occupied by a Peregrine, 

 generally subjected to more or less of persecution by the 

 farmers, who say it kills their poultry, one man solemnly 



