The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-18

surprise nesting birds, whom they devour, to-
gether with their eggs or young. Bell dis
credits popular stories about their killing
snakes. on the ground that, having placed tho
respective animals together, he found them to
be at first afraid of each other, aud after their
apprehension had subsidized, mutually indiffer
ent. The same author attributes TO the weasel
habit of biting its prey through the brain,
thus causing instant death. It's mode of attack
is described as being in some degree like that
of the constructors among serpents. 1t throws
itself upon the prey, and enfolds it with its
long 1.-the body,
THUS PARALYzING THE CREATURES MOTIONS.
and at the same time inlicts the fatal wound.
Certain authorities deny that weasels suck
blood Though they do not seem to discredit the
fact of their sucking eggs, and affirm that it is
mechanically impossible for them to do so.
Precisely the same thing has often been said
OF the tiger Also and upon equally insufficient
grounds. Independently Of this disputed point,
however, with reference TO which the advocates
OF opposite opinions have cited directly con-
trary facts said 10 have been derived from
personal observation, il seems tolcrably certain
that the brain is the part first eaten, after
which unless this toe insufficient to satisfy their
hunger, the rest OF the carcass is hidden.
In common with Carnivora generally, wea-
sells are nocturnal although not strictly so,
and, for the most part, they are also solitary,
L
mon statement, however, is not always strictly
true. Occasionally, says st. John, these ami
mails join in a company of six or eight and
hunt down rabbits or harcs, giving tongue
and tracking their unfortunate victims like
pack OF beagles. They hunt both by sight and
scent; their peculiar conformation and extreme
agility and quicEness enables them easily TO
beat ground that is very obstructive to most
other small animals, ana thus compcnsatcs for
flp loss Of CnppH ipvnlVpl hy tho gbDTfupcS of
their limbs. Nothing in the way of pursuit can
hc more iuveteratcly persistent than that prac-
ticcd 10y the weasel, who follows its object on
the surface, underground, and into the water.
Little more remains 10 be said of this crea-
turc, whose common name appears TO be an
chronological enigma that is unsolvablc. 1t is
very prolific, the female breeding two or three
times year, and producing four or more fre-
quentiy five, young at a birth. These their
parents will defend to the last extremity, and
amongltsmany obnoxious traits thisailection for
ats offspring and the courage displayed In their
behalf, may well be emphasized as redeem
ing feature in n character otherwise repulsive.
No disparity in size or excess of power in the
GSsallaut daunts n weasel under these circum-
stances, and il viii die rather than forsake its
trust. Should the aggrcssor be a dog, il fast
ems, like several others of the Mus:clidg, upon
its nose, and like these also tho grip Of tho
jaw is very firm and not easily Embossed.
Commonly their nests, which they make soft
and warm by lining of grass or other vegota-
bic fiber, are situated in a hole in some bank,
dry ditch, or hollow-tree and in the immo-
date vicinity Of this the successive filters con-
gregate until they have developed sufficiently
10 begin life independently; after this age has
been reached they separate aud betake them
selves to that mode OF existence which has
been 10 some extent outlined.
ia be eoulinted)