bpigbl .v ~j pat i the cabin.' 
Concord, Massachusetts, 
12 
ember 
Norway Rats have been frequenting the old 
cabin at Ball's Hill of late, entering It by a hole which 
they have gnawed in the logs at the right-hand corner by 
the fire-place where there is a wood-pile. A half-grown 
one rushed in through this opening as I i?as at breakfast 
this morning. Following it closely was an animal thrice 
its size which I took at first to be a Red Squirrel for it 
had a wide, bushy, black-tipped tail and was bright rusty 
red above and pure white beneath. 
It turned out, however, to be a huge Weasel 
belonging, 10 doubt, to our larger New England species 
(Putorius noveboracensis) which I had never seen living 
before. It looked as big as a medium sized Mink and acted 
not unlike one, galloping to and fro over the wood-pile 
with its nose carried low like a hound seeki 3 scent. 
Presently it routed out the Rat from among 
the v,ood and followed It up a rough-barked locust post that 
supports the roof of the cabin. Both animals ascended this 
spirally, winding around and around it at such speed that 
my eye could scarce follow them. Just before reaching the 
top of the post, the Rat was overtaken by the Weasel who 
seized him about the middle of the back and bit him but 
17 
