173 



mens) ; tail Veitehtm fifteeti (Gerrard), varying in lengtK from one to two 

 inches. 



Description and Habits.-^ThiB Weasel differs from its ally, P, ermineus, 

 in its smaller size and the general dimensions of the tail. In the krmvne 

 this member is at all seasons brushy, and conspicuously black-tipped for 

 about two- fifths of its total length. 



The mahogany-brown of the Weasel turns to white in winter in 

 northern New England; but this change, according to Mr. J. A. Allen, 

 does not occur as far south as in Massachusetts, where it sometimes takes 

 place in the Ermine, 



Of the habits of the Weasel in America little is , known J thej' proba- 

 bly do not differ essentially from the same species in Europe or Asia. 



Although not common in collections, and rather rarely taken at pres- 

 ent, Audubon represents it as a common animal, feeding on small 

 rodents, insects, eggs, and young birds. 



The accompanying account of its habits ig drawn from the Writings of 

 Thomas Bell, and is at the same time interesting and reliable : 



"The Weasel climbs trees with great facility, and surprises birds on the nest, sucks 

 the eggs, or carries off the young. * » » 



" I have obser^^ed that when the Weasel seizes a small animal^ at the instant that the 

 fatal bite is Inflicted, it throws its long, lithe body over its prey, so as to secure it should the 

 first bite fail ; an accident, however, which I have never observed when a Mouse has 

 been the victim. The power which the Weasel has of bending the head at right angles 

 with the long and flexible, though powerful neck, gives It great advantage in this mode 

 of killing and seizing its smaller prey. It also frequently assumes this position when 

 raising itself on its hinder legs to look around. 



" The disposition which has been attributed to the Weasel of sucking the blood of its 

 prey, has, I believe, been generally much exaggerated. » » » xhe first gripe is given 

 on the head, the tooth, in ordinary oases, piercing the brain, which it is the Weasel's first 

 act of Epicurism to eat clean from the skull. The carcase is then hidden near its haunt 

 to be resorted to when required, and part of it often remains until it is nearly putrid^ 



" The Weasel pursues its prey with facility into small holes, and amongst the close 

 and tangled herbage of coppices, thickets, and hedge^rowe. It follows the Mole and the 

 Field Mouse in their runs ; it threads the mazes formed in the wheat-rick by the colonies 

 of Mice which infest it ; and its long, flexible body, Its extraordinary length of neck 

 the closeness of its ftir, and its extreme agility and quickness of Inovement, combine to 

 adapt it to such habits, in which it is also much aided by its power of hunting by scent^- 

 a quality which it partakes in equal degree with the Stoat. In pursuing a rat or a 

 mouse, therefore, it not only follows it as long as it remains within sight, but continues 

 the chase after it has disappeared, with the -head raised a little above the ground fol- 

 lowing the exact track recently taken by its destined prey. Should it lose the scent it 

 returns to the point where it was lost, and quaiters the ground with great diligence 

 till it has recovered it ; and thus, by dint of perseverence, will ultimately hunt down 

 a swifter and even a stronger animal than itself. But this is not all. In the pertinacity 

 of its pursuit it will readily take the water, and swim with great ease after its prey. 



