THE WEASEL. 



361 



the act of devouring the bird, which it had already killed. This adventure took place 

 at Mansfield, at the end of the month of October. The birds were more than two feet 

 from the ground when the attack was made upon them. 



Another Weasel was seen to capture and kill a rook in a somewhat similar manner. 

 The rooks had discovered the Weasel in a field, and, after their custom on such occasions, 

 had gathered round it, and commenced mobbing it. Suddenly, just as one of the rooks 

 made a lower stoop than usual, the Weasel leaped at its tormentor and dashed it to the 

 ground. The dissonant cries of the rooks as they scolded the Weasel attracted the atten- 

 tion of a horseman who was passing by, who arrived at the spot just as the bird had 

 been killed. It lay on the ground dead, from a wound in its neck ; its murderer having 

 taken shelter in a neighboring hedge. As soon, however, as the horseman withdrew, 

 the Weasel emerged from its hiding-place, and dragged the dead rook under the shelter 

 of the bushes. 



Although the Weasel proved the victor in this instance, it does not always meet with 

 equal success, especially when it matches its mental powers against those of a superior 

 kind. The predilection of this ani- 

 mal for eggs has already been 

 mentioned, and the Weasel will 

 take great pains in order to 

 secure the coveted luxury. A 

 gentleman, who had discovered 

 a furtive nest made by one of his 

 hens in a hedgerow, was witness 

 to a curious scene. Just as the 

 hen had laid an egg, she issued 

 from her nest, cackling triumph- 

 antly, as is the manner of hens 

 upon such occasions. A Weasel, 

 which had been observed at a 

 great distance stretching its neck 

 as if watching for its prey, darted 

 towards the spot, but just before 

 it reached the nest it was an- 

 ticipated by a crow, which seized 

 the egg and bore it off in triumph 

 Desirous of investigating the 

 matter further, the proprietor of 

 the plundered fowl would not 

 remove her nest, but took up his station on the succeeding day, in order to see whether 

 crow or Weasel would return to the attack. No sooner had he arrived at his post than 

 he saw the crow already perched on a neighboring tree, and in a very short time the 

 Weasel made its appearance also. By degrees the two animals drew nearer to the hen's 

 nest, and as soon as her voice gave the signal, they simultaneously started for the spoil. 

 As before, the wings were more than a match for the legs, and the croW again bore off 

 the prize. 



The Weasel has been seen to catch and to kill a bunting by creeping quietly towards a 

 thistle on which the bird was perching and then to leap suddenly upon it before it could 

 use its wings. When it seizes an animal that is likely to make its escape, the Weasel 

 flings its body over that of its victim, as if to prevent it from struggling. In single 

 combat with a large and powerful rat, the Weasel has but little hope of success unless it 

 should be able to attack from behind, as the long chisel-edged teeth of the rat are terrible 

 weapons against so small an animal as the Weasel. The modes of attack employed by 

 the two animals are of a different character, the rat making a succession of single bites, 

 while the Weasel is accustomed to fasten its teeth on the head or neck of its opponent, 

 and there to retain its hold until it has drained the blood of its victim. The fore-legs of 

 the Weasel are of very great service in such a contest, for when it has fixed its teeth, it 

 embraces its opponent firmly in its fore-limbs, and rolling over on its side, holds its 



WEASEL. Mustela vulgarls. 



