192 WOODLAND, MOOR, AND STREAM 



the dykes empty direct into the tideway, commonly 

 called drains ; there, as they gather half-numbed 

 for the sake of getting fresh air, the polecat is sure 

 to hook one out from under the edge of the ice, 

 perhaps not more than half an inch in thickness, but 

 more than sufficiently strong to bear his weight. 

 The fisher-lads often see his tracks in the ooze if they 

 do not see him, for the tide never flows up without 

 leaving something behind it. Besides which the 

 fisher-folk generally shake all worthless fish out of 

 their nets on to the flats, under the comprehensive 

 name of muck, before hanging up the nets to dry, 

 Sc the polecat is sure to get a bit of fish of some kind 

 01 other .vhen he hunts on the salt flats. 



The marsh farmers, who hold very small grazing 

 farms, trouble little about him so long as he does not 

 work them mischief; but some morning on going to 

 the henhouse a farmer finds his black-breasted game- 

 cock or his duck-winged one dead on the floor and 

 some of the hens with him ; then he swears dire 

 vengeance on the polecat that has sneaked in some- 

 how, climbed the perches, and murdered them as they 

 slept. These birds are highly valued because, when 

 they are out on the run and the chickens are just 

 hatched out, no marsh hawk or gull will venture to 

 make a dash at them if their protector is there. The 



