296 WEASELS AND STOATS 



keeper and I proceeded to dig out the hole, in which I expected 

 to find the stoat and kill it ; but on coming to the bottom of 

 the burrow, which was quite a short one, we discovered no fewer 

 than eight other young ones, and the mother, all lying murdered 

 in similar fashion. None of the flesh had been eaten, and it is 

 doubtful whether the murderer intended to return, as we failed 

 to trap him.' 



The thoroughness of Mr. Millais's treatise, combined 

 with the costliness of his princely volumes, which must 

 make it difficult of access to many people, must be my 

 excuse for making so long an extract. 



I must add a tribute of gratitude to the stoat that 

 killed the fieldfare. It found a mate, and the pair have 

 remained in the garden throughout the summer and 

 autumn of 1906, with the result that not a rat is to be 

 seen, and the voles have nearly disappeared also. 



