72 ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



through the hedge. Then, realising the impossibility of his 

 task for the Rat was probably six times the Weasel's weight 

 and finding we had taken up an attitude of benevolent neutrality, 

 not loving Rats, he got on the Rat and finished the business. 

 A few spasmodic movements of the extended limbs showed 

 that the Rat was dead, so we left the Weasel to enjoy his feast 

 of brains in the solitude he desired. 



When the Weasel has failed by stalking or hunting such prey 

 to secure a meal, he is known to resort to " charming " tactics. 

 In full view of a hedgerow where small birds are numerous, he 

 will throw his body into snake-like contortions to attract their 

 attention. They become fascinated and curious, and though 

 apparently filled with fear, they approach nearer and nearer 

 until one is close enough to be grabbed by the charmer. Then 

 the others recover their senses, and in numbers fly at the 

 W T easel, mobbing and pecking him in a fearless manner, so 

 that he is coerced by the defenceless creatures he intended to 

 kill, and is glad to slink into cover. If there is a scarcity of 

 live food, the Weasel will content himself with carrion. Its 

 chief enemies are hawks. 



There is, as a rule, no seasonal change of colour in the 

 Weasel's fur in this country ; but occasionally it has been 

 found white in winter. In colder climates this change is quite 

 normal. 



The Weasel's nest is placed in a hole in the bank or in some 

 hollow tree, and consists of dry leaves, grass, etc. In it the 

 female brings forth from four to six usually five young, in 

 spring or early summer ; and the mother will sacrifice her own 

 life in the defence of her helpless progeny. If necessary to 

 remove them, she does it as a cat removes her kittens. 



In the north it is known as the Whittret = Whitethroat of 

 Suffolk ; in Yorkshire, the Ressel ; in Cheshire, the Mouse- 

 killer ; in Sussex, the Beale ; and in some parts of Surrey as 

 Kine, which suggests Gilbert White's Cane, the local name in 



