248 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 
prominent in England in the regalia of judges; 
whence our figurative expression ‘‘the ermine’’ 
as a symbol of the judicial office. 
Large, purely white ermine skins are still 
valuable in the fur-market, so that the animal 
is well worth the attention of trappers; but 
it is chiefly in its other relations that it now 
interests us. 
Weasels and chickens. Weasels of one sort 
or another are more or less common in all parts 
of the country, even to the suburbs of the 
cities; and they are so swift, secretive, alert 
and wise that they remain everywhere numer- 
ous in spite of the constant efforts of the aver- 
age countryman to kill them off. 
This enmity is due mainly to the animal’s 
delight in killing chickens, at which it is ex- 
ceedingly expert and bold, often invading a 
barn-yard in full daylight; and when one—or 
more usually a pair—has acquired the habit 
of chicken-killing it is likely to murder the 
whole flock in a short time if not prevented. 
This bloodthirst is only a natural outcome of 
its habit of preying on wild birds, especially 
those which keep to the ground; and in places 
