54 THE MAMMALS OF THE WOODS 



forty full-grown fowls iu a night. It usually hunts in pairs, but sometimes in 

 threes, by day and by night ; it climbs tolerably well ; and, although not a water 

 animal, swims excellently, and never hesitates to do so when circumstances render 

 this advisable. Its favourite haunts are thickets and stony places, which afford 

 sufficient shelter from its enemies. When driven to bay it emits a most disagree- 

 able penetrating smell. In April or May, two, five, or six, sometimes even a dozen, 

 young stoats may be found in the nest, which is made in a hole in the ground. 



The smallest European member of the family is the weasel 

 (M. vulgaris), which is white below and brownish red above ; its 

 tail, which is of the same length as the head, being of the same colour. The 

 weasel is found all over Europe, northern and central Asia, and the greater part 

 of North America. In high northern countries it becomes white in winter, 

 with the exception of the end of its tail, which, although much paler, remains 

 brownish red. Weasels feed chief!}' on small animals — such as mice, moles, harvest- 

 mice, small birds, and insects ; but they have been known to attack sleeping 

 partridges, and to harry hen-houses and hunt rabbits. They generally run along 

 the ground in little leaps, interrupting them now and then to have a good look round, 

 sitting erect that they may have the better view. The weasel is an agile climber, 

 and will surprise brooding-birds in their nests and eat both them and their young. 

 Although travelling more by night than by day, it cannot be regarded as quite 

 nocturnal. It makes its snug nest in a hole in the ground, a hollow tree, or some 

 such place, and lines it with dry leaves and other materials. Twice a year the 

 female brings forth four or five young ones, and the parents, especially the mother, 

 defend their young with desperate fury, at the risk of their own lives, and after 

 the danger is past carry them to another place. 



„ , The insect-eating mammals (Insectivora), like the true beasts-of- 



Hedgehog. ... . 



prey, fully justify their name. The majority have five toes on each 



foot, which are armed with sharp claws : and all walk on the whole sole of the foot, 

 or at least on the greater part of it, and are distinguished from other mammals bj^ 

 their cheek-teeth, the crowns of which carry, in the upper jaw, cusps, arranged 

 either like a W or a V. They are further distinguished by the long, pointed head, 

 and especially by the muzzle, which extends beyond the lower jaw. They are found 

 all over the world, except South America and Australia, but there are not many 

 species of the group, which is probably now waning. The hedgehog is the largest 

 insectivore in Europe. The family to which it belongs comprises only four genera, 

 the members of which differ greatly in appearance, and live in widely sundered 

 countries. The hedgehogs are spread widely over Europe, Asia, and Africa, but 

 in southern Asia are not found eastward of the Bay of Bengal. 



The European species (Erinaceus europceus) is distinguished by its short 

 neck, pig-like muzzle, and short limbs. It lives on insects, field-mice, shrew- 

 mice, and other small animals, and, to a certain extent, on roots and fruits. 

 Although a nocturnal animal, it will sometimes venture out in the daytime, 

 but probably only when it has to provide food for its young. The young 

 are born in July or August, or, when there are two litters in a year, late in 

 the autumn. They never exceed four in number, and are at first blind, and 



