LITTLE BEASTS OF FIELD AND WOOD 



she did make one half-hearted attempt to gnaw 

 into the brain at the base of the skull, soon 

 pausing, however, to yawn widely and lick her 

 chops like a cat ; and I noticed that throughout 

 the entire meal she had somehow managed to 

 keep herself surprisingly clean and dry, carrying 

 her tail cross-wise over her back or shoulders, 

 as if to keep it off the floor of the cage, which 

 had become uncomfortably wet through the 

 upsetting, of her dish of water while we were 

 struggling with the rabbit's head. 



She now began to exhibit a desire for sleep, 

 crouching on a dry spot with her chin and throat 

 resting on the floor and her eyes half closed, 

 but without showing signs of curling up, as most 

 small animals do when about to go to sleep. 



Remembering the very common belief that 

 weasels and hares sleep with their eyes open, I 

 watched her for some time in silence ; and it is 

 true that I did not see her eyes close, except to 

 wink, at any time, and though to all appearances 



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