1 
COMMON PARTRIDGE. 
of the rascals tliat prowl about the hedgerows and traeks through the forests and woodlands under 
various pretexts in the spring. Domestic pussies, when once they have taken to stray and deserted the 
fireside, soon become the most destructive of four-footed robbers; and so energetic was one of my father’s 
keepers in years gone by, in his attempts to free his charges from the attacks of the feline species, that 
he roused the animosity of all the old wives in the village. It was seldom that this indefatigable game- 
preserver deserted his post and left the ground he guarded; but happening on one occasion while on 
his rounds to meet the parson and receive a lecture for his non-attendance at divine service, he declared 
it would be impossible for him to put in an appearance, as the whole of the women whose anger was 
aroused Avould seize the opportunity to rant and rage at him for the losses they had suffered. Stoats and 
weasels destroy large numbers of eggs, and also succeed in pinning sitting hens by the neck and suckino- 
their blood as well as in carrying off young birds. Traps carefully set may clear off a few, though an 
experienced keeper, who always carries his gun when looking over the ground, is sure to meet with'^manv 
chances for a shot. Mdiile shooting or crossing the country, making notes, or while in pursuit of 
specimens, I must at various times have killed several hundreds of these tiny marauders, of which no account 
was kept in my vermin lists. Only a few months back, in the course of a drive across the South Downs, 
a couple of stoats were stopped just in time to prevent mischief: the first was rolled over while in 
pursuit of a rabbit down the Dyke Hill, near Saddlescombe, and an hour later the second was knocked 
off the roof of the house at the turnpike-gate at Pyecombe, where the cunning little thief had succeeded 
in making his way in order to reach a fine old cock Chaffinch hanging in a cage against the wall. 
In many country districts stoats and weasels are confused, and exceedingly curious titles are bestowed 
on them. In the east of Sussex a weasel is known among the country people as a “ kine,” and in the 
Broad district m the east of Norfolk both species are termed “lobsters.” It may not be generally known 
that stoats make their way to almost the summits of many of the higher mountains in the Highlands. 
I frequently placed traps baited with hares on the cairns or “false men”*, and several of these ^animals 
were taken at an elevation of nearly three thousand feet. In marshy districts it is easy to learn if stoats 
are plentiful. Though these destructive creatures will prowl to the dampest parts, they appear to have 
a dislike to swimming the water-dykes, and invariably make use of the planks thrown across for footways. 
I remarked that they speedily defile any fresh-cut pieces of wood that are put down, their droppino-s 
being left most conspicuously on the plank. This fact I noticed in the portions of Pevensey Level adjoining 
the uplands, and also repeatedly in the Broad districts in the east of Norfolk. Small wanderin- parties of 
from SIX or eight up to a dozen stoats have often come under my notice ; on one occasion in E^t Lothian 
my attention was attracted by the loud screams and growls of a white terrier that accompanied me, and 
on hastening to the spot I discovered him fighting for his life, surrounded by a pack of from twentv to 
thir y stoats Having gripped one of his small antagonists successfully, I distinctly saw him shake' his 
head, when three or four which had fastened round his jaws were fiuiig off. Luckily we were within call 
of one of the nmn, who was instantly despatched for my gun left against a tree some hundred yards distant, 
n t le mean time a heavy hedge-stake was my only weapon, and with this I managed to disable three 
Z Tn — r breech-loader, the animals, which had hitherto exhibited ‘a disposition to 
attack (hissing loudly and rising up on their hind quarters), were rapidly put to flight. A dozen or fifteen 
V ere accounted for m addition to the wounded that escaped, the dog having settled about half the number, 
and the last four or five falling to the gun. Though highly elated at his victory, poor Bob, a white bull- 
eirier presented a pitiful spectacle. His damaged “mug” commenced at once to swell, and the blood 
xom the cuts had deeply stained his head, neck, and throat. A careful sponging with warm water soon 
tops of probaLly built up for laudmarbs, on the 
