Practical Game-Preserving. 3 02 



its dwelling, consisting mostly of the holes and passages 

 naturally formed when large uneven stones or wood are 

 heaped together, and to this fastness will it always re- 

 treat should it consider danger as likely to occur, being 

 able to traverse it with facility, and effectually to 

 " dodge " any animal which may follow it in and which 

 might prove too dangerous an adversary. From these 

 holes they issue at odd times, in ones, twos, or threes, 

 and sally off on their predatory hunts. 



Similarly to the fitch, the stoat is also fond of running 

 a hedge before commencing its work in real earnest, pro- 

 bably owing to the fact of its having just left the 

 dwelling in which it sleeps, and where it spends a fair 

 half of its time, or more even, in recuperating its 

 energies. Unlike the larger vermin, however, the stoat 

 mostly, but not entirely, hunts by day, and when so 

 doing generally pursues its operations at or before sun- 

 rise, and for an hour or two before sunset, times when the 

 various animals, birds, &c., upon which it preys, are also 

 busy feeding, and generally not so observant of means 

 necessary to their safety. 



Compared to the weasel, the stoat is in England 

 generally less frequently met with, but in certain parts 

 it is undoubtedly of much more frequent occurrence than 

 the smaller animal. Its agility is considerable, and in 

 spite of the peculiar length and litheness of its body, it 

 can run at a really astonishing pace, at the same time 

 employing very elegant motions, and showing always a 

 very animated appearance, leaping and bounding along 

 in an easy and free-going gallop. As to whether it hunts 

 by scent or by sight, "opinions differ," and doubtless 

 the stoat's opinions differ too, for being an instinctively 

 intelligent little animal, it adopts the manner most suit- 

 able to the occasion. 



