226 THE WEASEL. 



exercise to all ranks of people, 'tis then that the little fellow becomes 

 dear to me, and shall always command my protection and my good 

 word. 



The fox requires no particular attention at our hands by way of 

 keeping up the breed. Only let us prevent poisoned food and traps 

 from being placed in its runs, and nothing more will be asked from 

 us. Its own peculiar habits, its noctural industry, and its uncommon 

 knack of avoiding danger, will always enable it to support itself in 

 food, and to provide handsomely for a numerous family, wherever it 

 may be. To be sure, young and ill-natured farmers will possibly 

 exclaim that the trampling of the horses in the rising cornfields 

 must always occasion a certain amount of damage. But experience 

 shows that this is not the case; and the making of gaps in the 

 hedges is unworthy of notice, as they consist of dead wood, and can 

 easily be repaired soon as the arrival of spring shall announce the 

 cessation of rural amusements in the field. 



But my pen or my tongue are ever on the move when hunting is 

 the topic. I fancy that 1 already tire the too indulgent reader. 

 Wherefore, I will bid him farewell ; and should he chance to be 

 one of old Nimrod's genuine breed, may he enjoy good health, good 

 hounds, good horses, and good temper ! 



THE WEASEL. 



" Una ministrarum, media de plebe Galanthis 

 Flava comas aderat, faciendis strenua jussis." OviD. 



GALANTHIS, in days of yore, was lady's-maid to Alcmena, the mother 

 of Hercules. She cheated Juno, and Juno in revenge changed her 

 into a weasel. Let us look into the real habits of this interesting 

 little quadruped, and try to place them before the reader in so clear 

 a point of view that he may be able to judge for himself whether its 

 good qualities or its bad ones have the greater claim to our con- 

 sideration and interference. 



Our zoology calls for the labour of a Hercules to clear away its 



