146 ANIMAL ARTISANS 



tinacity of the weasel tribe, instances of resistance on 

 their part must be classed as courage of a high order. 

 The following example of a rabbit attacking a stoat 

 rests on the first-hand observation of a trustworthy 

 field-naturalist. He was sitting on a log in Gunton 

 Park in Norfolk, near some nettles, when he heard 

 a curious grunting noise in the nettle-bed. Presently 

 a stoat ran out, and almost immediately a rabbit 

 rushed from the nettle-bed and knocked the stoat 

 over. The rabbit then ran back a little, and re- 

 peated the odd noise which had been heard before. 

 The stoat picked itself up and ran, not at the 

 rabbit, but towards the nettles. The rabbit rushed 

 at it again, and upset it before it could enter the 

 nettle-bed. It did this four times in all before the 

 stoat was able to get past. When it did so it almost 

 immediately caught and killed a very young rabbit, 

 which the doe had evidently been trying to protect. 



The courage of many birds is very remarkable, if 

 allowance is made for their small size and slight 

 means of offence or defence. As a rule size makes 

 no difference whatever in their personal prowess. 

 Many of the smallest are the most intrepid. In the 

 defence of their eggs the blue-tits are the most 

 determined of any English birds. A blue-tit will 

 sit on its nest, though there is plenty of time and 

 opportunity to esca'pe, and wait until its visitor's hand 

 reaches it, when it will at once bite the intruding 

 fingers with the greatest vigour and courage. As 

 most blue-tits' nests are made at the bottom of holes 

 and hollows, there is sometimes no chance for the bird 



