NATURAL HISTORY. 



PuTomus. (Lat. from puteo, to stink.) 



Fcetidus (Lat. fetid), the Polecat, 



The POLECAT, fitchet, foulmart, or " fommard," as the farm- 

 ers call it, is very common in most parts of England. It is 

 dreadfully destructive to the poultry, and destroys both old 

 and young. William Howitt relates an interesting anecdote of 

 his dog unearthing a polecat, and afterwards bringing out of 

 its hole an entire brood of ducklings that had most unaccounta- 

 bly disappeared from the premises of a farmer. Winter is the 

 usual time for its appearance in the farmyard, as in the sum- 

 mer it obtains its food with less risk among the warrens. 



The FERRET is supposed to be a domesticated variety of 

 the polecat, and a mixed breed is generally preferred by 

 rat-catchers, who use the ferret, first muzzling it carefully, 

 to drive the rats out of their holes, when they are either 

 struck down with sticks, or killed by terriers, who keep a 

 sharp watch for them. The hair, called Fitch, is much used 

 for making paint brushes. 





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MUSTKLA. Ermin^a. The Stoat. 



The STOAT, or ERMINE, is also another common English 

 animal. It is less than the polecat, but its habits are 



