40 THE WEASEL. 



long and yet powerful neck, and with a set of sharp 

 teeth, this little quadruped attacks and destroys 

 animals which are as superior to itself in size as an 

 elephant to a dog. 



Small men are generally the most pugnacious, and 

 the same circumstance is noted of small animals. 

 The weasel, although sufficiently discreet when dis- 

 cretion will serve its purpose, is ever ready to lay 

 down that part of valour, and take up the other. 



Many instances are known of attacks on man by 

 Weasels, and in every case they proved to be dan- 

 gerous enemies. They can spring to a great distance, 

 they can climb almost anything, and are as active as 

 — weasels ; for there is hardly any other animal so 

 active : their audacity is irrepressible, and their bite 

 is fierce and deep. So, when five or six weasels unite 

 in one attack, it may be imagined that their opponent 

 has no trifling combat before him ere he can claim 

 the victory. In such attacks, they invariably direct 

 their efforts to the throat, whether their antagonist 

 be man or beast. 



They feed upon various animals, chiefly those of 

 the smaller sort, and especially affect mice ; so that 

 they do much service to the farmer. There is no 

 benefit without its drawbacks ; and, m this case, the 

 benefits- which the weasel confers on farmers by 

 mouse-eating is counterbalanced, in some degree, by 

 a practice on the part of the weasel of varying its 

 mouse diet by an occasional chicken, duckling, or 



