94 THE WEASEL AND THE STOAT (THE ERMINE). 



a most objectionable stench in one of the buildings 

 where grain was stored. In the course of a few 

 days the stench became so unbearable that part 

 of the floor was removed to ascertain the cause, 

 whereupon it was found that numbers of dead 

 rats lay in the space directly under the floor-boards. 

 Here and there the carcasses lay in heaps, as though 

 they had been carried with some idea of storage, 

 while many more had been dropped on the run- 

 ways to and from these heaps. Examination 

 revealed that a stoat or a weasel or possibly a 

 whole family of these dreadful little killers was 

 responsible for the slaughter, and for the remainder 

 of that season very few rats were observed on or 

 about the farm. 



Reference has been made to the weasel's sense 

 of hearing and its value as a guide in hunting 

 activities. I was one evening strolling over some 

 lowland meadows, on the off-chance of a shot 

 at game of some sort, when the village boy who 

 was with me drew my attention to a stoat 

 sitting bolt-upright at a wall-foot in an attitude 

 of listening. Anxious to observe its movements 

 for it had not seen us I refrained from shooting 

 the little pirate, and after a few seconds it began 

 to bound off in a northerly direction, pausing 

 now and then to sit up and listen, then bounding 

 off in the same direction as though reassured. 

 All its actions clearly indicated that it was going 

 in the direction of some sound that had attracted 

 it, and having travelled fully three hundred yards 

 probably considerably farther it came at length 

 to a small barn where numerous rats had lived 

 all summer, and disappeared into the massive walls 

 of the building. 



This passing observation, of which little was 



