NEZ LONG'S MENAGERIE 



183 



" I reckon they do, for they get whitish all the same 

 as the Northern Hare, and when they are real white 

 folks calls 'em Ermines. When they come from far 

 north countries, where it is cold enough to make them 

 a good clear white, they are worth a lot of money for 

 their fur. But down here they're no good. This one 

 strayed into a trap I set for Mink ; it's one of their 

 bothersome tricks to push themselves into the place of 



Weasel ok Ermine in Winter Dress. 



their betters. See, this fur is a mussy color, and fur- 

 ther south they don't change hardly any." 



" Rod says Weasels are very bad things and no better 

 than rats." 



" Thej' are much worse than rats," said the Doctor. 

 " In fact, they are the most malicious, blood-thirsty, and 

 wasteful of all our fourfoots. They are all the time 

 breaking Heart of Nature's law, ' Take what ye need 

 for food,' killing merely for the pleasure of it, and 



