Vermin Virtues An ardent re q uest that vermin, especially stoats and
weasels, shout not be allowed to multiply appeared recently in The Field, and it evok the comment that stoats and weasels killed rats. Now it is part of m creed that both stoats and weasels play a not invaluable part in th• balance of Nature within this island ; but there is, I think, no evident• that weasels kill rats, though there is evidence that the two do no " consent to a mutual relation ": many weasels few rats is the rule Another doubtful point arises in the controversy. The Forestry Co mission is accused of harbouring vermin. It more often evicts vermir When the Commission took in hand some very barren land on the border of Norfolk and Suffolk, neighbouring landowners complained that the lands were invaded by stoats. The fact was that the complete clearanc of the afforested area from rabbits routed the starving stoats to th adjacent rabbit-ridden land belonging to those whom The Country has called " bunnyfactors." The Forestry Commissioners are open the charge of certain offences against welcome animals, such as bons squirrels and blackcock, but they do not harbour stoats.
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