COMMON PARTRIDGE.
nf (lii> rnsr.il it Ihat prowl about the hedgerows mid tracks thrmiirh the forests and wood lands under
vnrieus pretexts in tin- spring. Domestic pussies, when once they have taken to stray and deserted Mm
tlrrside, soon liecnme the must destructive of four-footed roblicrs; nnd so energetic was one of my father's
kis'pers in years gone by, in his attempts to free his charges from the attacks of the feline species, that
he roused the animosity of all the old wives in the village. It was seldom that this indefatigable gantopreservor
deserted his post and left the ground he guarded: but happening on one occasion while on
his rounds to meet tin- parson nnd receive a lecture for his non-attendance at divine service, he declared
it would be impossible for him to put in an appearance, ns tho whole of the women whose auger was
nroused would seine the opportunity to rant nnd rage nt him for the losses they had sum-red. Stnats and
weasels destroy large numbers of eggs, and also succeed in pinning silting hens by the neck and sucking
their blood as well ns in carrying off young birds. Traps carefully set may clear off a few, though an
experienced keeper, who always carries bis gun when looking over the gmunrt. is sure to meet with nianv
chances for a shot. While shooting or crossing the country, making notes, or while in pursuit of
specimens, I must at various times have killed several hundreds of these tiny marauders, of which no account
was kept in my vermin lists. Only a few months back, in the course of a drive nrross the South Downs,
a couple of stoats WEN stopped just in tunc to prevent mischief: the first was rolled over while in
pursuit of a rabbit down the i>yke Hill, near Saddlcscomhe, and an hour later the second was knocked
oil' the roof of the house at the iiirupike-gnto at 1'yeeombe, where the cunning little thief had succeeded
in making his way in order to reach a line old cock Chaffinch hanging in a cage againsl the wall.
In many country districts stoals and weasels are confused, and exceedingly curious titles are tacstowed
on them. In the cast of Sussex a weasel is known among the country people as a " kino," and in the
llroad district in the cast or Norfolk liotli species are termed "lobsters." It may not he generally known
that stoals mnke their wny to almost the summits of many of the higher mountains in the Highlands.
I frequently placed traps baited with hares on the cairns or "false men"", nnd several of these animals
were taken at an elevation of nearly three thousand feet. In marshy districts it is easy to learn if stoats
are plentiful. Though fheso destructive creatures will prowl to the dampest parts, fhoy appear lo have
a disbke to swimming the water-dykes, and invariably make use of the planks thrown across for footways.
I remarked that Ihoy speedily defile any frosh-eut pieces of wood that are put down, their droppings
lieing left most conspicuously ou the plank. This fact 1 noticed in the portions of 1'evensey Level adjoining
the uplands, and also repeatedly in the Broad districts in the oast of Norfolk. Small wandering parties of
from sis or eight up to a dozen stoats have often come under my notice; on one occasion in Bast Lothian
my attention was attracted by tho loud screams and iirowls of a while terrier that accompanied me, and
on hastening to the spot I discovered him fighting for his life, surrounded by a pack of from twenty to
thirty stoats. Having cripped one of his small antagonists successfully, I distinctly saw him shake his
head, when throe or four which had fastened round his jaws were flung oir. Luckily we were within call
of one of the men, who was instantly despatched for my gun loft against a tree some hundred yards distant.
In Ihe moan time a heavy hedge-stake was my only weapon, and with this I managed to disable three
or four. On the arrival of the breech-loader, the animals, which had hitherto exhibited a disposition to
attack (hissing loudly and rising up ou their hind quarters), were rapidly put to (light. A dozen or fifteen
were accounted for in addition to the wounded that escaped, the dog having settled about half the number,
and the last four or live falling to the gun. Though highly elated at his victory, poor Bob, a white bullterrier,
presented a pitiful spectacle. His damaged "mug" commenced at once to swell, and Ihe blood
from the tuts had deeply stained his head, neck, and throat. A careful sponging with warm water soon
• Thi. u the mnr SITIH bj lie mtiiL-j k the (.lit. of rough atone, of tram t.-.- I gii I. • • in Light, ] r •' , •.;. MM up tm lnndmirk*. on tho
tup- •( Ha hifkv
COMMON PARTRIDGE.
rcmovcil all signs of inflammation. Ibough the plucky Utile dog carried till his death the marks of the
wounds received, small pieces of flesh having l>cen torn from his cheeks and lips.
One good word, however, which will not stand contradiction, can be said for weasels, ns those tiny
dcspcinilus will invariably destroy rats when they obtain n chance. I have often seen than turned out
from the cover when wheat-stacks were being taken down, and in every instance remarked that there were
numbers of dried rat-fkin• and olher remains or their mortnl enemies, dragged to portions of tho
ricks where Ihe; had taken Up Ibeir cpiai'tor-, and plainly indicating what had attracted them to the spot.
I particularly noticed that the farm-labourers, though keen enough to pursue and kill olher vermin,
always ceased Ihcir efforts when the "kino," as lliey termed the weasel, was dislodged from IN'Heath tho
sheaves and put to flight, evidently making due allowance for the assistance given in exterminating tho
thievish rats.
In the pits nt some of tho sporting "cribs" five-nnd-twenty or thirty years ago, 1 have now and
then seen well-contested battles between a weasel and a rat. The most desperate tight, however, I ever
watched, tenninaling in the death of both combatants, was witnessed between two wild animals in the
garden at Porrygate, in East Lothian. An immense nt was first detected in the act of creeping quielly
beneath a small heap of rubbish collected on an open space for hunting; a few momenta Inter a weasel
came in view, sniffing slowly and carefully over the newly turned mould across which the rat bad made
his way. On perceiving his actions were observed, ho drew up nt once, but made not the slightest
attempt to retreat. As matters seemed at a standstill, I directed a mnn who was working close at hand
to turn over the litter below which the rat had concealed himself. Though by far the most powerful in
point of size nnd weight, the rat evidently had but liftle heart for the encounter; when driven from his
hiding-phice, be made slowly off some ten or a dozen yards, and was thou tackled by his former pursuer,
who had quietly awaited his opportunity. Though unwilling lo come to the scratch while ho|)os of escape
remained, the rat when attacked fought well and pluekily, and for the first few minutes had by far the
best of the struggle. Almost twice ns bulky as his netive antagonist, he appeared to bear him down each
time they rose; but, small and wiry, the weasel gradually obtained nn irresistible grip on the neck of his
victim. At Inst the blood began lo flow, and the combatants grew rapidly weaker; still, each retaining
ils hold, tiny rolled over and over, liU suddenly relaxing the grasp they had obtained, they staggered
Imck a few paces, and rising up fell dead at (he snme moment. This battle, lasting several minutes, was
f II-' i utterly regardless of the spectators who had aimed round within the distance uf a few fed.
The eggs or 1'artridgcs and Pheasants are without doubt more frequently destroyed by stoats than
we generally imagine; not even the nests of our familiar friends Ihe harn-door fowls escape Ihe attention*,
of those bloodthirsty and merciless little thieves. While slopping at a farm-house in the marshes at
Potior llcigham, in tho east of Norfolk, in the summer of lSSo, I ascertained the truth of a statement
concerning these animals, which 1 previously considered impossible, viz., (hat they were constantly in the
habit or robbing the nests of the hens and carrying off the eggs. An immense number of fowls were
kept at (his farm, and though many bid in the baskets prepared for their accommodation in the henhouses,
and also in the mangers in the stables and cattle-yards, several resorted to ihe plantations round
(be gardens, as well as to the adjoining hedgerows. There was a nest near the house from which
ten or a dozen eggs, the produce of as many industrious and noisy old hens, wore removed every
afternoon i and having remarked on one occasion, about mid-day, that it contained eight, nearly the
full complement, 1 was standing on the front-doorstop a few hours later, when on looking up the
garden, a sloat caught my eye trotting down the path, and finally springing jauntily over the box-edging
that bos dared the patch of Portugal Inurel under which the nest was lit anted, Though considerably Ism
than hall' a minute was spout in snatching up a gun, I arrived ou Ihe scone too late, M not a glimpse