The Way of a Weasel 



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able to tear the place apart. A snake, indeed, 

 is the only hostile thing (except another wea- 

 sel) that can get into such an intricate den. 

 I believe a weasel would not hesitate an instant 

 in attacking it if it came ; and I guess he would 

 overcome the worst snake of our woods. I have 

 never seen a battle between a serpent and an 

 ermine, but I have no doubt the mammal, small 

 as he is, could avoid the reptile's fangs by his 

 leaping agility for he is acrobat and contor- 

 tionist in one and destroy it by his lancet-like 

 teeth. 



By the same token, as Irishmen say, the 

 animal is able to follow the mice and other of 

 its lesser prey along their runways, and into 

 their narrow and winding burrows and hiding- 

 places, careless of depth, or darkness or danger. 



It is characteristic of so courageous a crea- 

 ture that it should be a faithful ally. A pair 

 will stand affectionately and nobly by each 

 other in danger, and a weasel mother will de- 

 fend her young to the last gasp. I once met 

 in the spring, in the woods, a family of minks 

 only another sort of weasel consisting of a 

 *$ 5 



