San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-12-15
The Weasel.

most graceful nttio creatures 'h"' o'''
| be imagined. 1t lives in all cool coun-
tries, and makes its home in hollow
trees, in stone heaps or in any conven-
lent hole where it can find shelter. 1t
is no larger than good sized rat, but
has longer legs. 1t has long, 1.-the,
slender body, long neck and dainty lit
tie head, with small round ears and
bright eyes. 1t is covered with smooth,
sleek hair, OF q brown color on its back
and white below. 1t has long whiskers
on its nose, and a very short tail. Its
weapons are its strong claws and sharp
teeth, which it knows howlto use so
we'll that larger animals live in constant
terror OF this bold and wicked little
marauder. The weasel itself has very
few enemies. EVIL the powerful birds
of prey which are ever on the alert for
rabbits and other small game, rarely
swoop down on the weasel, for, although
they can easily carry it away in their
strong talons, it often proves very
troublesome booty. A hunter once no.
ticed a large hawk, high in the air,
which was tapping its wings violently,
and apparently in great trouble. Sud-
denly it dsrted, and fell to the earth
almost at the hunters feet, where it lay
gasping and dying, while tiny weasel
sprang from the heap Of feathers, and
scampered away to hide itself in the
stone wall near by. On examining the
bird, the hunter found that its throat
was torn to pieces by the weasel's sharp
teeth. The little creature, although
unable to escape from the powerful
grip of the hawk, had twisted itself
until it could reach it's enemy's throat
when it easily inflicted a deadly wound.
The defenceless hares and rabbits are
bitterly prosecuted by the weasel, which
springs upon them, and, with wonder
full instinct, knows exactly where to
fasten its sharp teeth. The unfortunate
hare may scamper away as fast as it can,
but its enemy clings to it's neck, and
the poor little animal must soon fall,
faint and die, from loss Of blood. This
tragedy is acted over and over again by
these two pretty inhabitants of wood
land thickets, and the rabbit is always
forced to yield to its little enemy.
Rats and mice, squirrels, moles, frogs
and birds of allkinds are hunted by the
weasel, it may often be seen twisting
itself in and out of stone heaps or walls
in the vicinity of barnyards, where it
watches for chickens, doves and other
domestic fowls. ...... ..y ... ...
If taken very young weasels may be
tanned, and whole army of cats will
not free house so qickly of rats and
mice as will one little weasel. Pussy
must sit patiently by the rats hole and
wait until the mischievous beast ven
lures forth; but where the rat can go
the weasel can follow. Weasels and fer
refs are often kept on board of ships,
and are petted by the sailors for ship
with weasel as passenger is always
free from rats. ,
There are many pretty stories told of
tame weasels, and of the affection they
towards those who care for
them. A lady who received present
Of small and very young weasel fed it
with milk, which it drank from her
hand. The little creature became so
attached to its mistress that whenever
she called it, it would instantly appear
from whatever corner in which it was
,urled up. and would climb all over her
ike squirrel. 1t never bit her, and
would play with her cat or dog, often
riding around on their backs; but it
never injured them. Its curiosity af-
'orded its mistress much amusement.
If she opened box or trunk Master
Weasel would raise himself on his hind
egs and make every effort to peep in
,ide.
This little creature is much hunted by
nan, and large numbers are caught in
raps, it being general impression that
hey do more harm than good; but al
hough weasel may now and then
larry off a chicken from the farmyard,
t does much good by freeing barns and
of mice and other small de-