Vermin of the Farm. 
475 
species. It has been found, however, upon a careful com- 
parison, that there are absolutely no cranial, dental, or other 
characters by which they can be distinguished. 
The three species of British M'ustelidce are so often con- 
founded by those who have had no opportunities of studying 
them, that figures of all of them are here given for the purpose 
of comparison. From these it will be seen at a glance how 
different they are in appearance. To complete the group a 
figure of the marten might have been added, for this is in point 
of fact an arboreal weasel ; but it is now so rare an animal in 
the British Islands, restricted to some of the wilder parts of the 
north and west of England, Wales, Scotland, and parts of 
Ireland, that it has at the present day little or no claim to be 
regarded as one of the “ Vermin of the Farm.” 
Of the three other species of the family to which attention 
has been directed, it is difficult to say a good word for any but the 
weasel, which unquestionably renders good service by destroying 
great numbers of mice, rats, and voles, and on this account 
should be allowed to go free about the stack-yards and farm- 
buildings. 
The stoat and the polecat, from their larger size as well as 
by their strength and courage, are enabled to kill, and do kill, 
much larger prey in the shape of chickens, fowls, ducks, and 
game, whenever opportunity serves, and it is therefore impossible 
to gainsay the complaints of farmers and gamekeepers who 
inveigh against this exercise of their natural propensities. 
There was a time, however, before the days of “ game- 
preserving ” as now carried out, when stoats and polecats lived 
side by side with pheasants, partridges, grouse, hares, and 
rabbits ; and the toll which they took of them evidently did not 
result in the extermination of any of the species, or even in a 
visible decrease in their numbers. On the contrary, there is 
reason to believe that by killing those which were most easily 
captured, by reason of their being less robust and active than 
their fellows, a process of natural selection was carried out which 
resulted in the “ survival of the fittest,” and the consequent 
improvement of the race. 
Another plea may be urged in favour of the polecat. 
Farmers who, under the operation of the Act of 1880, have a 
concurrent right to the ground-game upon the land in their 
occupation, have now and again to consider the advantage of 
possessing good ferrets for rabbiting. Experienced warreners 
aver that, to improve the breed of ferrets, there is nothing like 
a cross with the wild polecat. It is as well, therefore, not to 
carry the destruction of vermin too far in the case of an animal 
