THE GAMEKEEPER AND HIS GOLGOTHA. 103 



prey. But this does not often happen. To rats 

 the Weasel is a deadly enemy ; no number of 

 them will attack it, and the largest singly has 

 no chance against it. Like the Polecat, the 

 Weasel hunts by scent. It climbs trees easily, 

 and takes birds by stealth. The Keeper tells 

 me that he has seen a brooding partridge taken 

 in this manner; and on winter evenings the 

 sparrows roosting in holes in hay-ricks. Weasels 

 also kill toads and frogs ; their mode of killing 

 these, as well as of despatching birds, is by 

 piercing the skull. 



The Polecat, or Fitchet, keeps much to 

 woods, and feeds mostly on rabbits and game. 

 But in the northern fell districts, it often takes 

 up a temporary abode on the moors, during 

 the season that grouse are hatching. Then 

 it not only kills sitting birds, but sucks the 

 eggs, and thus whole broods are destroyed. 

 Many "cheepers" of course fall victims. 

 Knowing well the ferocity of the Polecat, I 

 believe that the damage done to grouse-moors 

 where this bloodthirsty creature takes up its 

 abode can hardlv be estimated. Like others 

 of its tribe, the Polecat kills more prey than 

 it needs. Sometimes it makes an epicurean 



