Show C EEl S I NATURE RESTLESS RE- RE RELENTLESS IlE LJ RENTER HUNTER BY liv ARTHUR N P FiCK The Tho American Nature Association The weasel has hils been cited as asan asan an example ot or restless energy and reputation has hu been well earned As a tribe It Is of northern distribution Those found farthest north which put on a n winter coat of white and 1 known In that state as ermines I used to give their fur to adorn the robes o of royalty and others or of high estate Now since fash fashion ion has hIlS decreed that all alt must wear fur ermine or Its irnita Imitation Imitation tion Hon Is seen on those of hIgh i and low estate alike But Dut before he becomes ermine th weasel Is ono one of ot the most animals known Iown Ills prey Is anythinG lie can over over- overcome overcome come COllie and In Its pursuit bo ho knows neither fear nor fatigue The Tho larger kinds make the hare their pre prey pursuing that I proverbially a swift animal by scent md tiring Urine it down Some kinds I eem especially designed to prey on tor for thel their r slender lus u- u JUg US bodies no thicker than ones one's Ittle finger enable them to fol- fol 01 tol-ow tol ow to their extremities tho the bur bun burrows burrows rows of ot these small pests and east on the Inhabitants Others of larger size aize penetrate the un underground galleries of pocket gophers and kill kilt them with with- witha a single single bite I IOn I On Oil t the he of ot Asia among the great colonies of ground the w s make their easel home And on out our own western plains plain among the towns of the praIrie dogs does and nowhere else In this the world ja s 8 found round the black black- footed black footed ferret whoso special mla mis sion ion in life Is plainly the th destruction destruction tion of ot that prolific rodent When man seta sets up his IIi habitation lion tion In tho timo wilderness and brings with him Aim Ills his flocks of barnyard tow fowls Is he h sOmetimes places be- be before be before fore the Weasel easel a II temptation that ho he cannot withstand tand A weasel has been known to kilt kill an all entire flock of chickens chicken In III a II night But Dut close students of or the ani- ani animals ani animals mals cite cite- numerous instances Instance where weasels have lived for entire Ilea seasons sons in and about chicken houses killing only the mice and never nver once harming II a fowl 00 |