
‘ There is good evidence as to “ packs ” of Weasels being seen together, but
from the behaviour of my pair in captivity I should judge the adult Weasel to
be essentially a solitary animal. Each had his own corner in the cage, which he
defended v i et arm is against his fellow. Frequently they fought, and in the end
one killed the other; yet at times they played like puppies. The game was a
kind of hide-and-seek, one taking cover, waiting till the other approached, “ yapping”
at him, and, if he took to flight, pursuing him round the cage and up
and down its wire-netting sides. As in the case of dogs, it was easy to distinguish
these mock combats from the real thing.
‘ As regards the characteristic attitudes of the Weasel, which, from a photographic
standpoint, I was greatly concerned in observing, I was surprised at the
rarity of the “ sitting-up” position, which in the case of stoats and Weasels is a
commonplace of illustration. I have never seen this position (full front with the
fore paws clear of support) more than momentarily adopted by stoat, Weasel, dr
polecat. The Weasel has two characteristic methods of running. In one he
keeps his body very low and straight, and I never succeeded in following the
movements of his feet. The other is a series of bounds, and at the top of each
bound his body is strongly arched, all four feet being clear of the ground. Like
the marten, polecat, and stoat, he sleeps coiled head to tail, and on more than
one occasion I have succeeded in confuting the proverb. In hunting he probably
depends entirely on scent—my pair would often run sniffing round their cage
while I held their food behind me. I f the food was inserted while their back
was turned they would discover it evidently more by smell than sight. Their
strength, like that of stoats, is extraordinary. A stoat can easily tow a full-
grown dead rabbit, and a Weasel is equally proficient with a large dead rat. In
the case of living prey the Weasel fastens at the side of the throat, and to worry
his victim more effectively swings and jerks like a whip-lash from side to side of
its back. Once the throat-grip is secured, the victim is helpless either to bite,
shake off, or scratch off his aggressor.
‘ I do not consider that a Weasel would be a match for a full-grown rat
under anything like fair conditions, and I valued my Weasels too highly to try
the experiment. I imagine the rat would corner himself, sit up, and beat down
the Weasel s attack with his fore paws; but that a Weasel would cheerfully attack
a full-grown rat there can be no question—he would cheerfully attack an elephant.’
The female Weasel is wonderfully brave in defence of her young, and will