462 Yearbook of the Department of Ayr/culture, 1010. 



The animals roam widely on dry ground, feeding mainly 

 on mice, ground squirrels, and other small mammals and 

 on birds. Owing to a fierce desire to kill far beyond their 

 needs they are sometimes very destructive to poultry; they 

 leave their victims untouched except for a bite in the neck 

 or beneath the wing, and fowls in this condition furnish a 

 sure evidence of their presence. When running the weasel 

 makes two tracks, one a little in advance of the other, its 

 leaps covering 12 to 16 inches of ground. It may be caught 

 in No. or No. 1 traps set under fences, buildings, or fallen 



Fig. 10. — Funnel Sparrow Trap. Designed by the Biological Survey. 



This is made of |-inch-niesh poultry netting or sand screen, the near side oi 

 which, in this illustration, is raised to show the interior. 



trees, or wherever it is known to run. A mouse, English 

 sparrow, or chicken head hung 8 or 10 inches above the trap 

 may serve as bait. 



Weasel skins should be cased the same as mink skins (see 

 fig. 20). 



OTTERS. 



Otters are comparatively rare animals, but, being exten- 

 sive travelers, are likely to appear now and then in any of 

 the larger bodies of water, as fish are their natural food. 

 They move about in the daytime and thus may be seen 

 either fishing or at play. In the wilder regions they resort 

 to steep banks of streams, down which they slide in play, 

 plunging into the water below. For catching otters double- 



