84 



OUR BACKDOOR NEIGHBORS 



were present at different times during the 

 seven years over which the study extended. 

 When, as occasionally happened, an individ- 



During the day they usually remained curled up in the nest. 



ual polecat did form the poultry-killing habit, 

 it was immediately disposed of, as of no 

 further value to the experiment, and to pre- 

 vent other individual animals learning bad 



