188 BRITISH QUADRUPEDS. 



in it. While working in the neighbourhood, he chanced 

 to look at the trap, and observed a weazel actively 

 engaged in trying to detach the mole from the wires 

 that held it. The weazel ran up the stick which formed 

 the spring of the trap, and descended on the captive 

 which he seized ; he then tried by various movements 

 to disengage the mole from the trap, but was not able 

 to effect his purpose. Tired by his fruitless efforts, he 

 relinquished his hold, and dropped to the ground there 

 he rested for some time, but afterwards he climbed the 

 stick again, and renewed his exertions with increased 

 ardour. The workman at length took the mole from 

 the trap, and threw it down as a reward for his per- 

 severance j but on seeing him the weazel made his es- 

 cape, and did not return while he remained. 



The weazel is sometimes the prey of hawks, but the 

 ingenuity of an inferior enemy may outmatch violence 

 and rapine, though accompanied by superior strength. 

 As a gentleman was riding over his grounds in Dorset- 

 shire, he saw, at a short distance from him, a kite pounce 

 on some object on the ground, and rise with it in his 

 talons. In a few moments, however, the kite appeared to 

 be very uneasy, rising rapidly in the air, or as quickly 

 falling, and wheeling irregularly round, while it was 

 evidently endeavouring to force some obnoxious thing 



