A STOAT STORY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1752, 28 January 1888, Page 3

A STOAT STORY

In 'Wood's Natural History,' vol. 1, p, 362, It 1b stated that " the weasel is most destructive In its nature, killiog many more animals than it can devour, slmp<y for the pleasure of killing," and on page 363 stoata are described as (< killing almost any deforiptlon of quadrupeds, bird* and reptiles." Mr Wood also ttisr* to the stoats on page 370, as follows ;— c * A gentleman waa vaiklng along a rosd near Crloklade when he saw two stoats sitting on the path. He idly picked up a itone and fliing it at the aolma's, one of whloh wa« struck. The other fct^ai Immediately utteted a loud and peoaliar ory, whloh was answered by a number of Its oo&psnions, who issued from a neighboring hedge, and tpr> ng opb'nr^fiiirr assailant, running up his body, with ourprlsing rapidity, and strivlug to reach his neck. As soon as ho siw the s'oa s coming to the attack he picked up » handful of stones, thinking that he ehoulci be able to repal his little enemies ; but they cams boldly on m spite of the stones and of his stick. Most providentially a sharp wind happened to ba blowing on that duy, and he had wound a thick woollen comforter around his neck, so that he was partially protected, Finding that he had co chance of beating off tho pertinacious animals, ho flung his sHok down, fixed his hit GrroJy over hid temples, and pressing his hands to his neck, so aa to guard that perilous spot as much as po sible from the sharp teeth of the stoats. Bet off homewards as fast as he oould ran. By degrees several of the animals dropped off, but others clung so determinedly to their opponent that when he arrived at his stables no less than fife etoata were killed by his servants bb they hung on hia person. His hands, face, and part of his neck, were covered with wounds, but owing to the presence of mind with, which he had defended hia neck, tho large blood-vessels had escaped without injury. The distance from the spot where he had been attacked to his own hoaoe waa nearly four miles.