448 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



It is satisfactory to know that this state of things is being 

 altered ; that a reaction has set in in favour of the Weasel, 

 as well as of the Kestrel ; and we have it on the authority of 

 Mr. John Bell, head gamekeeper to the Duke of Buccleuch at 

 Drumlanrig, that he " had instructions from his Grace not to kill 

 Kestrels and Weasels, which instructions, of course, have been 

 strictly adhered to" (2059). 



In the granary and the straw-yard, as the late A. E. Knox 

 has well observed,* " the Weasel is eminently useful, far more 

 efficient than a cat, and a worthy ally of the White Owl. Indeed, 

 besides the quantity of Rats which it destroys, even during a 

 temporary sojourn in such situations, a still greater number of 

 those noxious animals are frequently induced to migrate from the 

 spot where it has once firmly established its quarters." 



The modus operandi, or we might say venandi, in the case 

 of the Weasel, has been accurately described by Dr. Ritzema 

 Bos, in his ' Tierische Schadlinge und Nutzlinge fur Ackerbau.' 

 He says : — 



" Chiefly during the night — especially in abundant mouse-years — but 

 also to some extent in the day, it is busily occupied in catching Field-mice. 

 As soon as the slender little carnivore creeps into a mouse-hole, the terrified 

 rodents may be seen springing up, as if possessed, from the neighbouring 

 burrows ; but the Weasel has speedily seized a mouse by the throat, and 

 has bitten into the arteries of the neck, so that it may taste the blood of its 

 victim. Inasmuch as the Weasel, like other members of the Marten 

 family, only eats its prey when in need (being usually satisfied with merely 

 drinking its blood), it requires many Field-mice for its daily food. There 

 thus comes upon it a delight in killing, so that even when satiated it still 

 goes on killing for mere pleasure. Hence it is that a single Weasel may 

 easily destroy two dozen Field-mice, or it may be more, in the space of one 

 day. When the Weasel has young, it drags many dead mice into its nest. 

 As destroyers of Field-mice, the Weasels excel over other similar animals of 

 prey — firstly, by their far greater number ; secondly, by their slender, snake- 

 like, active bodies, which enable them to search as no other animal can 

 for the Field-mice in all their holes and burrows ; and, thirdly, by the 

 circumstance that they continue the destruction of mice through the 

 winter." 



The Weasel appears to be more sensitive to cold than the 

 Stoat, and during hard weather keeps to the shelter of the rick* 



* 'Gamebirds and Wildfowl,' p. 256* 



