Practical Game-Preserving. 306 



takes to it for safety. No animal is more audacious than 

 the weasel, and few more foolhardy. 



The stoat and the weasel both employ the same means 

 of killing by sucking the blood. The latter always fixes 

 itself to its prey just at the back of the jaws and rather 

 under than on the top of the neck, and then throws the 

 hinder part of its lithe and supple body on the back, 

 whether of bird or of mammal, while with its strong fore- 

 legs it endeavours to embrace it round the neck. Similar 

 in nature to the polecat and stoat, the weasel has a habit 

 of killing many more animals than it can possibly 

 consume. Undoubtedly, however, owing to the confusion 

 of the stoat with the weasel, the latter gets credited with 

 a good many of the misdeeds of the former, and, perhaps, 

 also many depredations committed amongst eggs and nests 

 by the weasel are laid to the charge of the stoat. 



In much the same manner as stoats, weasels will form 

 themselves into diminutive packs and hunt in company, 

 but adopting a more systematic style of attack ; they have 

 a favourite practice of running out from their habitations 

 and making a complete investigation of anyone who may 

 happen to pass. 



Not only will the weasel commit the above-named in- 

 discretions, but an occasion has come to my notice when it 

 made a rush at and inflicted a bite upon a dog before 

 the latter was able to turn upon its aggressor. More 

 especially will it attack them when they accidentally come 

 sniffing about the nest, when the varmint becomes literally 

 wild with rage, and flies at the intruder in a most deter- 

 mined manner, often, indeed, lessening any chance of its 

 escape by the foolhardy mode of its aggression. 



Many instances have occurred of weasels attacking 

 humankind, and in these aggressive operations they are 

 always numerous enough to cause some trouble to men to 



