EYE-BEAMS 117 



at all; that I had not contented myself with coming 

 day after day and counting his mice as he carried 

 them in, and continued my observation upon him 

 each succeeding year. Now the rent in his fortress 

 could not be repaired, and he would doubtless move 

 away, as he most certainly did, for his doors, which 

 I had closed with soil, remained unopened after win- 

 ter had set in. 



But little seems known about the intimate private 

 lives of any of our lesser wild creatures. It was 

 news to me that any of the weasels lived in dens in 

 this way, and that they stored up provision against 

 a day of need. This species was probably the little 

 ermine, eight or nine inches long, with tail about 

 five inches. It was still in its summer dress of dark 

 ehestnut-brown above and whitish below. 



It was a mystery where the creature had put the 

 earth which it must have removed in digging its 

 den; not a grain was to be seen anywhere, and 

 yet a bushel or more must have been taken out. 

 Externally, there was not the slightest sign of that 

 curious habitation there under the ground. The 

 entrance was hidden beneath dry leaves, and was 

 surrounded by little passages and flourishes between 

 the leaves and the ground. If any of my readers 

 find a weasel's den, I hope they will be wiser than 

 I was, and observe his goings and comings without 

 disturbing his habitation. 



