noticing it if I had not caught sight of its tail projecting on one side of the
nest.
‘ A Stoat had a family of young ones high up in the ivy of the church tower
at Herringfleet, near Lowestoft, a few years ago, and the mother was seen
constantly climbing up the ivy with young rabbits in her mouth to feed them.’
Young Stoats are blind for nine days after birth, and the eyes open slowly,
when they soon become active and follow the mother in her forays.
The mother rapidly teaches the young to take part in her killing operations,
and in the autumn it is not unusual to see two family parties of Stoats joined
together and formed into a pack. One August day, at Murthly, I fired a snap
shot at a large Stoat just as it was entering a stone wall. The animal was not
killed, so started squeaking loudly. In a moment the whole wall was suddenly
alive with Stoats. They seemed to exhibit no fear at my presence, nor any
disposition to attack me, although several came out of cracks within a few yards of
where I stood. I killed nine before the remnant disappeared for good. After I
had shot four or five the rest vanished into the w all; but as I sat down and kept
quite still three of the number, which seemed almost full-grown, kept trying to
run out and examine the first Stoat I had fired at, which, now dead, was lying
a few yards from the wall. I think that if I had not fired and killed these
three individuals they would have carried off the carcass. James Keay, the
Murthly keeper, told me one day when I had shot a Stoat running across a road
near Birnam Hall that if the carcass were hung up in a bush the mate would
come to carry away the dead body. As we returned to the same spot in the
evening the body of the animal had disappeared, and this removal of the dead
partner may be a common practice. I have seen rats do the same thing; but
whether the motive which prompts the action is purely generous or for the unworthy
purpose of cannibalism I cannot say.
There are several instances on record of Stoats attacking men and dogs. The
late E . T. Booth, writing in the ‘ Field,’ 1 says: ‘ Small wandering parties of six or
eight up to a dozen Stoats have often come under my notice. On one occasion,
in East Lothian, my attention was attracted by the loud screams and growls of a
terrier who accompanied me, and on hastening to the spot I discovered him
fighting for his life, surrounded by from twenty to thirty Stoats. Having gripped
one of his small antagonists successfully, I distinctly saw him shake his head,
when three or four, which had fastened round the jaws, were flung off. Luckily
1 October 6, 1883.
we were within cal'; ■ a workman, who was instantly despatched for my gun,
lying some hundred yards distant. In the meantime a heavy hedge-stake was my
only weapon, and with this I managed to disable three or four. On the arrival
of the breechloader the animals, which had hitherto exhibited a disposition to
attack (hissing loudly and rising up on hindquarters), were rapidly put to flight.
A dozen of fourteen were ICcountcd for.’
In confinement the Stoat is Spiteful and inquisitive, and is; very difficult to
tame unless obtained very young. Even then, if deserted by its regular attendant,
it will become shy in a few days.
Stoats will stop and ‘bark’ for a long time at some object that puzzles them.
One dark night in 1902 Dr. Juckcs,' Of Horsham, was going to visit a house in.
St. Leonard’s: Forest, and as he jgened the gate leading info the. forest he heard a
Stoat ‘ barking’ in the dfteh by the roadsidS.; After visiting his patient he
returned by the same road in three-quarters of an hour’s time, and found the
Stbat still yapping in the same spot. At this moment the rural postman camf
along borrowing his stick and using the lantern of his bicycle, the Doctor
went t|{ .inquire into the the trouble. A s tre. liv an c ed down the ditch
the Stoat came'JoutR the grass right up to him—so cfese* in fact, that he knocked
it on the head and killed it.
When playing Stoats g iy | out a chuckling happy ‘(sound, uttered in a; high
and a low key: When angry they make a loud chattering n | | B and when
hunting in packs and in full cry are said to ‘ give tongue.’ Mr. Heatley Noble
Says that a ‘ pack’ which he observed in full cry at Henley gave vent to ‘ faint
whines.’ They hunt in a line just like hounds* one taking up the trail and using
its nose, whilst the others follow in a body behind. Dogs and .men have several
times been attacked by parties of Stoats.... -
Stoats are easily trapped, and may be lured; with a small mammal as a bait.
They have few enemies; except man. Foxes are. said to kill them at times,1 and a
cat has been known to kill a Stoat,“ whilst Mr. J . B. Lucas records’ a remarkable
case in which a dog flushed a Stoat from a bunch of flags near Dudley. The
Stoat, being pressed, jumped into the water, and. swam away across a pool, when
it was taken by a large pike.
A Stoat suddenly flushed in the open g g a dog makes for cover in a series
of bounds. I t often escapes a swift dog, which, although faster, cannot always
catch the active little animal. It is siid that there exists great animosity between
1 F ield , vol. xcviii. p. 432. * ™d. vot xcviii. p. 863.); ‘ ’ M i. November .9 °+