248 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 



prominent in England in the regalia of judges ; 

 whence our figurative expression "the ermine" 

 as a symbol of the judicial office. 



Large, purely white ermine skins are still 

 valuable in the fur-market, so that the animal 

 is well worth the attention of trappers; but 

 it is chiefly in its other relations that it now 

 interests us. 



Weasels and chickens. Weasels of one sort 

 or another are more or less common in all parts 

 of the country, even to the suburbs of the 

 cities; and they are so swift, secretive, alert 

 and wise that they remain everywhere numer- 

 ous in spite of the constant efforts of the aver- 

 age countryman to kill them off. 



This enmity is due mainly to the animal's 

 delight in killing chickens, at which it is ex- 

 ceedingly expert and bold, often invading a 

 barn-yard in full daylight; and when one or 

 more usually a pair has acquired the habit 

 of chicken-killing it is likely to murder the 

 whole flock in a short time if not prevented. 

 This bloodthirst is only a natural outcome of 

 its habit of preying on wild birds, especially 

 those which keep to the ground ; and in places 



