The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-03
- SFa'aT----
EzHgN (
VIZ 49, sk-elGO
szzzessslsE--
ABOUT TIE WEASEL.
A Graceful Little Creature. Full OF Shy
ness shrewdness and Cruelty.

A Graceful Little Creature, Full Of Shy
ness, Shrewdness and Cruelty.
The weasel is one of the prettiest and
most graceful creatures that can be
imagined. It lives in all cool countries
and makes its home in hollow trees, in
stone heaps or in any convenient hole
where it can find shelter.
1t is no larger than a good sized rat,
but has longer legs It has long, 1.-the.
slender body, long neck and dainty lit
tie head, with small, smooth. sleek hair
of brown color on it's back and white
below. It has long whislxers on its nose
and a very short tail Its weapons are
its strong claws and sharp teeth, which
it knows how to use SO well that many
larger animals live in constant terror of
it The weasel itself has very few enc
mics Even 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 noticed a hawk,
high in the air. which was Tapping its
wings violently and apparently in great
trouble Suddenly it darted and fell to
the earth almost at the hunters feet,
where it lay gasping and dying, while
a tiny weasel sprang from the heap. of
feathers and scampered away to hide it.
self in the stone wall near by. On
examining the bird the hunter found
that it's throat was torn to pieces by the
weaseI's sharp teeth The little crea-
ture, although unable to escape from the
powerful grip of the hawk, had twisted
itself until it could reach the hawks
throat when it easily inflicted a deadly
wound.
The defenseless hares and rabbits are
bitterly prosecuted by the weasel, which
springs upon them, and with wonderful
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 its neck, and the
poor little animal must soon fall, faint
and dying, from loss of blood.
Rats and mice, squirrels, moles, frogs
and birds of all kinds are hunted by the
weasel, and 1t may often be seen twist
ing itself in and out of stone heaps or
walls in the vicinity of tarayards. where
it watches for chickens. doves and other
domestic fowls
If taken very young, weasels may be
tanned, and a whole army of cats will
not free house so quickly of rats and
mice will one little weasel. Pussy
must sit patiently by the rats hole and
wait until the mischievous beast ven
lures forth, but where a rat can go the
weasel can follow. Weasels and ferrets
are often kept on board of ships and are
petted by the sailors, for ship with a
weasel as passenger is free from rats.
There are many pretty stories told of
tame weasels and of the affection they
manifest toward those who care for
them A lady who received a present
of a very 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
curled up and would climb all over her
like a squirrel. 1t never bit her and
would play with her cat and dog, often
riding around on their backs, but it
never injured them. It's curiosity az
forded its mistress much amusement. If
she opened a box or trunk, Master
Weasel would raise himself on his hind
legs and make an effort to peep inside.
This little creature is much hunted
by man, and large numbers are caught
in traps, it being q general impression
that they do more harm than good, but
although a weasel may now and then
carry of a chicken from TIE far1nyard it
does much more good by freeing barns
and cornfields of mice and other small
destructive animals Troy Press