60 
WHITE WEASEL. 
on the snow. The little chipping or ground squirrel, Tamias Lysteri, takes 
up its residence in the vicinity of the grain fields,, and is known to car- 
ry otr in its cheek pouches vast quantities of wheat and buckwheat, to 
serve as winter stores. The Ermine instinctively discovers these snug re- 
treats, and in the space of a few minutes destroys a whole family of 
these beautiful little TamicB ; without even resting awhile until it has con- 
sumed its now abundant food its appetite craving for more blood, as if 
impelled by an irresistible destiny it proceeds in search of other objects 
on which it may glut its insatiable vampire-like thirst. The Norway rat 
and the common house-mouse take possession of our barns, wheat stacks, 
and granaries, and destroy vast quantities of grain. In some instances 
the farmer is reluctantly compelled to pay even more than a tithe in con- 
tributions towards the support of these pests. Let however an Ermine 
find its way into these barns and granaries, and there take up its winter resi- 
dence, and the havoc which is made among the rats and mice will soon 
be observable. The Ermine pursues them to their farthest retreats, and in 
a few weeks the premises are entirely free from their depredations. 
We once placed a half domesticated Ermine in an outhouse infested with 
rats, shutting up the holes on the outside to prevent their escape. The 
little animal soon commenced his work of destruction. The squeaking 
of the rats was heard throughout the day. In the evening, it came 
out licking its mouth, and seeming like a hound after a long chase, 
much fatigued. A board of the floor was raised to enable us to ascer- 
tain the result of our experiment, and an immense number of rats were 
observed, which, although they had been killed on different parts of the 
building, had been dragged together, forming a compact heap. 
The Ermine is then of immense benefit to the farmer. We are of 
the opinion that it has been over-hated and too indiscriminately perse- 
cuted. If detected in the poultry house, there is some excuse for de- 
stroying it, as, like the dog that has once been caught in the sheepfold, 
it may return to commit farther depredations; but when it has taken 
up its residence under stone heaps and fences, in his fields, or his barns, 
the farmer would consult his interest by suffering it to remain, as by 
thus inviting it to a home, it will probably destroy more formidable 
enemies, relieve him from many petty annoyances, and save him many 
a bushel of grain. 
Let us not too hastily condemn the little Ermine for its bloodthirsty 
propensities. It possesses well-developed canine teeth, and obeys an in- 
stinct of nature. Man, with organs not so decidedly carnivorous, and 
possessed of the restraining powers of reason and conscience, often com- 
mits a wanton havoc on the inferior animals, not so much from want of 
