134 FAMILIAR LIFE IN FIELD AND FOREST. 



squeezing, they all succeeded in getting there. Then 

 the place looked deserted. But presently the regi- 

 ment reappeared — Indian file again — down by the 

 horse block on the road, at the foot of the terrace ; 

 here I had a chance to count them as they marched 

 riverward across the road and disappeared in the 

 shrubbery on the other side — there were no less than 

 nine. I have not the remotest idea why so many of 

 them had congregated in the vicinity of the cottage, 

 unless the refuse tub around in the rear was the at- 

 traction. Truth to tell, on the borders of the wilder- 

 ness more wild animals (and tame ones, too, for I 

 must include the itinerant cow) visit one's refuse 

 tub than may be found in a city menagerie ! 



I have often met the weasel, and he never im- 

 pressed me with any shyness of disposition ; but 

 others have had a contrary experience ; for instance. 

 Dr. Abbott relates the following : " The careless 

 snapping of a twig may not startle you, but it tele- 

 graphs your whereabouts to creatures many a rod 

 away. . . Not long since I was watching a weasel 

 as it tripped along the rough rails of an old worm 

 fence. It was intently engaged, following the trail 

 of a ground squirrel, perhaps. Suddenly, as if shot, 

 it stood in a half -erect posture, turned its head quick- 

 ly from one side to the other, then rested one ear on 

 or very near the rail, as I thought ; then reassumed a 



