WEASEL
.—The weasel, though little seen in the environs of towns, is an animal very well known in most parts of the country: it varies in no great degree from the stoat, either in shape, make, or propensity. Its favourite alimentary enjoyment seems the destruction of eggs by suction; although it pursues and destroys poultry and game with equal avidity. By some instinctive impulse of scent or sagacity, the weasel is enabled to follow a hare, which it pursues with a kind of energetic phrensy; and whenever the hare unsuspectingly squats, if this inveterate enemy happens to get up, it immediately makes a spring, seizes the hare near the poll, and never quits its hold till the animal (though running in a state of distraction, and with the most piteous cries) is deprived of existence. The weasel may justly rank in the list of venomous animals, for its bite is almost universally fatal: a hare, rabbit, or any other object, bit by the weasel, is never known to recover, but continues in a lingering state till death.
In its pursuits, it has several points much in its favour: its activity, and the peculiar formation of its claws, enable it to scale walls with so much ease, that no spot is secure from its depredations. By way of compensation to the farmer for its luxurious repasts upon eggs and young poultry, it makes some amends by its inveteracy to rats and mice; having a spice of the ferret in its nature, it is to those an inveterate enemy, and pursues them with a most implacable hatred to certain destruction. It is a more successful invader than any other to these smaller animals, as, from its diminutive circumference, it can follow them into their inmost recesses, and destroy with very little ineffectual opposition. To young pigeons it is likewise a destructive depredator; and when it has young, is more bold and indefatigable in its researches. In the dusk of the evening, and by moonlight, it may frequently be seen stealing from its lurking place, under faggot piles or corn ricks, near the farm-house, taking the barns, stables, pig-sties, and poultry-house, in search of prey; which, when they have killed, if not too large, they carry or drag to the place of their retreat. In the summer season, the weasel will venture a great distance from its usual haunts, and the spot which has afforded it winter protection; it is then very frequently found by the sides of rivulets; and is particularly fond of a situation near a mill, and that is concluded to be from the plenty of rats with which they are invariably surrounded.