STOATS AND WEASELS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume 10, Issue 1147, 4 August 1881, Page 2

STOATS AND WEASELS.

(To the Editor of the Sivooued.)

Sie, —My experience of tbe stoat in England is this, When you have killed one, always look out for the second. They understand the motto, “ Unity is strength.” Their choice of food is young pheasants, partridges, lapwings, landrail, snipe, and all small birds that breed on the ground, sucking all eggs, large and small. In winter, when wild fowl is scarce, they will make for the farm buildings, get under floors and stacks for rats and mice, ’but let them find the fowl house and I warrant the family will be living on poultry for a fortnight after -turkeys, geese, fowls, and ducks, all lying with their throats pulled out. Although these vermin prefer warm meat, they kill all they come in contact with. The weasel is small, but its weight is made up by extra pluck. They are about the size of a common Norway rat, but longer in the body. I have seen dogs sick with worrying them—their stench is something terrible. I have seen them behind the ears of a jack hare, the hare leaping and running to get it off, but no ; when sucked stupid with head behind the hare's ears, I have frequently slipped up and with a blow laid both dead I have seen young lambs with the same puncture at the back of their ears, lying stupidjand die from loss of blood, not seeing, but knowing it was a weasel that had done it. Everything they bleed die, I believe, from the poison they infuse into the blood. Now, sir, if these vermin, foxes and wild dogs, succeed in destroying tho rabbits, what will they feed on next ? for by that time there will bo thousands of each sort. Will it be sheep ? or will they devour each other ? I think your readers will find a case in point in the Australasian, July 16th, page 89, headed “ Mallee Country.” This state of things is brought about by the large runholders allowing tho rabbits to get master, theu turning dogs wild to destroy the rabbits; instead they prefer mutton, and they now find the natural enemy is worse than the rabbit, which is increasing. Mr Editor, the great question is this with the runholders and large sheep owners, The rabbit mmtbe destroyed, but we don’t intend to pay tor it; we are the privileged few and make the laws for the small farmers, what presumption for them to say they will not allow their poultry to be ea£en to save our sheep. When we havewiade onr pile we will go Home and be clear of the expense of killing dogs, foxes, ferrets, stoats, and weasels, Electors, keep your eyes oiT those members who vote for the introduction of vermin, and get it repealed by honester men. I am, &c, H. H. Jackson, Stonestead.