| OCR Text |
Show Tiny Weasel Classed With Other Ferocious Animals of weasels should not be judged by human moral standards. On the credit side are an enormous number num-ber of insects and rodent pests destroyed de-stroyed by this small predator, thus making it decidedly beneficial to man's interests. The four North American subspecies subspe-cies of this highly successful little carnivore range from Alaska to Hudson bay, and southward to Montana, Mon-tana, Minnesota, Indiana, and Pennsylvania; Penn-sylvania; but in addition, the species spe-cies has recently been shown to be represented by Old World races, making it circumpolar in range. Nevertheless, despite this wide radiation, radi-ation, it is rarely taken in traps and little is known of its habits. The nest, usually grass-lined, is in a hole in a bank. Four to six young are born in a litter. Ounce for ounce, with the possible possi-ble exception of the shrews, the tiny least weasel is the most ferocious fero-cious and bloodthirsty animal of the mammalian class. Only a fraction over six inches in length, and weighing weigh-ing on an average about one-third of a pound, it is distinguished from the other weasels by its extremely small size and almost total lack of the characteristic black tip to the tail. With its long flattened head, wide jaws, and peculiar looping loop-ing gait when scenting a trail, it gives a definite impression of resemblance resem-blance to a reptile. There is a tense readiness about it, comparable compara-ble to a coiled spring held precariously precari-ously in leash. The least weasel is reddish-brown above, and white beneath. In common com-mon with other weasels, it possesses pos-sesses the ability to change to a white coat in winter, which must give it an enormous advantage over the mice and birds upon which it preys. In fact, it is only in the light of the almost unbelievable fertility of its victims that one can conceive of their continued existence, exist-ence, for all weasels are known to attack out of mere lust for killing. kill-ing. However, this is apparently part of Nature's scheme of checks and balances, and the conduct |
