Vermin of the Farm. 
467 
letter to Pennant) tliat weasels prey upon moles, as appears by 
their being sometimes caught in mole-traps. This, of itself, 
would not be conclusive, for weasels thus caught might have 
been in pursuit of field-mice, which often make use of the 
moles’ “ runs ” ; but instances have been recorded in which 
weasels have been seen carrying dead moles in their mouths.* * 
If moles, therefore, are considered by agriculturists to be 
injurious to their interests, the above-named natural enemies 
of the mole should be regarded as deserving of protection. For 
the reasons already mentioned, however, we should be disposed 
to spare both, and leave the adjustment of affairs to Nature. 
Tliere is less to be said in favour of the hedgehog (Erinaceus 
Earoimus) ; for although it belongs to the same order of insec- 
tivorous mammals as the mole, the observations of naturalists 
abundantly prove that its diet is by no means confined to 
insects. Its food, in fact, is extremely varied, and while it 
evinces a partiality for field slugs, snails, worms, and beetles, 
there is no doubt that it preys also on eggs,^ chickens,® young 
landrails,'* mice, young rabbits,® leverets,® frogs, snakes,^ and 
even vipers.® 
It destroys not only parti’idges’ and pheasants’ eggs, but 
also the eggs of poultry and ducks. On this point a writer in 
the Field gives the following account of his experience : 
“ Within the last few weeks (June, 1874) two distinct cases have come 
under my own observation, that in my mind have conclusively settled the 
question. The first is this : I had a tame duck laying under some tops of 
trees (that had been recently felled) in the wood where I reside. There 
were five eggs in the nest. On the following morning there were only two 
and a piece of shell. On the following night I put down a common rabbit 
trap at the nest, let into the ground, and covered over. About ten p.m. I 
heard something crying out (similar to the noise made by a hare when in 
distress). Upon going there I found a very large hedgehog in the trap. I 
took it out, killed it, and set the trap again. About eleven p.m. there was 
another large hedgehog in the same trap, which I killed, and set the trap 
again. I went again the next morning at five a.m., and found another large 
hedgehog in the same trap, making three hedgehogs the same night caught 
at the same nest. Since then the duck has been sitting in the same nest, 
undisturbed by anything. The second case occurred last week. One of mv 
men came to me with a face as long as a fiddle. ‘ Master,’ says he, ‘ the 
crows have been and spoilt a pheasant’s nest that you knew of down the 
' Field, July 9, 1881, and May 1. 1886. 
* Hid., June 6, 1874; Zoologist, 1883, p. 116. 
* Gardeners Chronicle, 1816, p. 480. 
* Zoologist, 1883, p. 2.5. 
* Thompson, Kat. Hist. Ireland, vol. iv. p. 3. 
® Gardener's Chronicle, 1. c. 
’’ Zoological Journal, vol. ii. p. 19. 
" Zoologist, 1887, p. 306. 
