178
0. R. POTTS AND 0. P. VICKERMAN
gamekeepers in area B took 52% of the weasels present. The precise
effect of this is difficult to measure, however, since 94% of the trapped
individuals were already affected by the parasitic nematode of the
skull, Skrjabingylw nusicola (King, 1971).
TABLE XX
Preliminary analyaea of the food eaten by some predators at North Farm,
Suaaex, 1968-19721Stoat
Owls
Weasel
(Muatela (Tyto alba and
(Muatela niwalh)
emninea) Aeio Jammew)
NOV. 1968Oct. 1971July 1971
Feb. 1972
Analysis by
Dr Carolyn
Philip Moors
= n g
I
Y
I
Soricidae
T e a europea
Leporidae, mainly
Clethrionomya glareolua
Microtua agreatia
Apodemua eylvaticua
(also A.@wicolZia)
Micromya minzctua
Mua muBculua
R&ua norvegicw,
Galliformes
Passerines
Other birds
Other
Sample size: stomachs
containing food
(Oryctolagzcs cuniculua)
Eggs
-
0.5%
11.8%
10.2%
39.8%
8.4%
8-1 yo*
5.4%
10.2%
1-0y0
-
3.2%
1*6y0
2.8%
186
1971172
-
-
38.7%
-
19.3%
6.4%
-
3.2%
3.2%
9.6%
3.2%
9.6%
6.4y0
-
31
Sept. 1971Feb. 1972
Roger Trout
9-8y0
-
0.9 yo
1.2%
12-sy0
5.9%
47.2%
15*4y0
3.6%
-
-
3.3%
337 (pellets)
-
-
* Unidentified mall rodent-not ell Micromya.
1- 1973 data indicate that, during late June and early July about 20% of the
diet of Muateh spp. consists of Galliforme chicks.
Just as weasels are held to be dependent on Microtus so stoats are
dependent on the rabbit (Table XX). The recovery of the rabbit is
assumed to be partly responsible for the recent increase in numbers of
stoats (Fig. 19).
Day (1968) found that 22% of the food items of stoats were gamebirds. Stoats are well known partridge predators and in Holland