_Mousehunt_ (Vol. ix., pp. 65, 135.).--A short time ago I was informed by a
gamekeeper, that this little animal is found in the Holt Forest. He told me
that there are three kinds of the weasel tribe in the woods: the weasel,
the stoat or stump, and the _mousehunt_ or _mousehunter_, which is also
called the _thumb_, from its diminutive size. It feeds on mice and small
birds; but my informant does not think that it attacks game.
White of Selbourne mentions that such an animal was supposed to exist in
his neighbourhood:
"Some intelligent country people have a notion that we have, in these
parts, a species of the genus _Mustelinum,_ besides the weasel, stoat,
ferret, and polecat: a little reddish beast, not much bigger than a
field-mouse, but much longer, which they call a _cane_. This piece of
intelligence can be little depended on; but farther inquiry may be
made."--_Natural History of Selbourne_, Let. 15.