LITTLE BEASTS AND HOW TO FIND THEM 



where better eyesight would often stand them 

 in good stead, for eyes are more serviceable away 

 from the wind than against it, and the wonder 

 is that in all these generations of hunting and 

 being hunted, their eyes have not reached a 

 higher degree of perfection ; but perhaps any gain 

 in that direction would mean a corresponding 

 loss in the other senses, and so the least import- 

 ant was sacrificed ; and it certainly seems to be 

 true that in no living creature are all of these 

 senses perfect. 



While the wind is at your back, you will only 

 get the most unsatisfactory glimpses of any of 

 the fox and weasel tribes ; but with it in the 

 opposite direction, you may study them at your 

 leisure ; and to a certain degree this is true of all 

 our wild animals. 



In one sense winter is the best time for study- 

 ing them, for when the snow is in the right con- 

 dition, you may follow the footsteps of all those 

 that are abroad at that season, and see for your- 



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