Retrospective Criticism, 295 



The snugness and comfort of this retreat was indeed truly enviable, while 

 the wind was sharp from the north-east, being lined with a large quantity 

 of the down of mice and moles, and some feathers. In a side apartment 

 there were some two or three dead mice, and a bird, lying in store. It is 

 an extremely bold and intrepid little creature, but it is likewise very swift, 

 and trusts more to its speed than the weasel does. I have more than 

 once known him afford capital sport with a greyhound ; for whenever the 

 dog stoops to mouth, he jinks as quick as lightning between the dog's fore- 

 legs, and throws him wonderfully out ; and, as he is almost indefatigable, 

 generally succeeds at last in gaining time to find a mole-hole. I shall be 

 much gratified to hear, from any of your numerous readers, some facts 

 showing how it was discovered that he gets killed by the adder. In the 

 high lands around the sources of the Tweed he turns to a pure white 

 during winter, all save the tips of his ears and the black brush upon his 

 tail, the colours of which are always permanent. — W. L. Selkirkshire^ 

 January 30. 1832. 



The Stoat (p. 77.). — J. M. is mistaken, in some degree, when he says, 

 the stoat (ilfustela erminea) does not change its colour here as in the 

 northern parts of the world. I have frequently seen them quite white in 

 winter ; and a brother of mine shot one several years ago, which we got 

 stuffed, and its colour was, I think, as pure as any foreign ermine. In sum- 

 mer they are frequently so dark in the coat as to be taken for a light- 

 coloured weasel ; more of a dusky yellow than white. — Thomas Thompson, 

 Hull, February 16. 1832. 



The Stoat and Weasel, — J. M.'s interesting account of the stoat and 

 weasel (p. 77.) induces me to offer the following remarks : — To many the 

 study of zoology would become more attractive, and be greatly facilitated, 

 were the common and provincial names of animals acquired and attended 

 to, with the same care as the Linnaean nomenclature. " In the north," 

 says J. M., " this animal (the weasel, ikfustela vulgaris) is called the fou- 

 mart, and often the whitret." * If he write of the north of England he 

 may be perfectly correct ; but in the north of Scotland the polecat (ikf. 

 Putorius) has the term foumart invariably applied to it. With all, except 

 with such as have compared them with systematic descriptions, M. vul- 

 garis and M. erminea pass as individuals of the same species. Conse- 

 quently, in this part of the country, the name is indiscriminately applied to 

 each. The stoat is more frequently seen than the weasel ; but J. M.'s 

 remark is to be taken with some exceptions when he states that the former, 

 M. erminea, " does not change its colour here (in Britain does he mean ?) 

 as in the northern parts of the world." In this district it has occasionally 

 been seen quite white, excepting the tip of the tail, which remained 

 unchanged ; and the belly, which had a yellowish tinge. It has been met 

 with in this condition (only ?) in very severe winters, and when the snow 

 lay deep on the ground. Now, as it is frequently met with, in the winter 

 months, with no alteration of its fur beyond what J. M. states, it would be 

 well worth the attention of all who have the opportunity, to ascertain whe- 

 ther the degree of change in its fur be regulated by the severity of the winter 



* " Qiihittret has been derived from Teut. wittern, odorare, odorem 

 spargere [to give out an odour] ; Gl. Sibb. This indeed expresses one 

 quality of the animal, as, when pursued, it emits an offensive smell. But I 

 would rather deduce its name from another, which would be more readily 

 fixed on, as being peculiarly characteristic, and more generally obvious : 

 this is the swiftness of its motion; Isl. Invatiir, Su. G, hwat, quick, clever, 

 fleet. Thus we say, as clevei-'s a quhittrety — Jameson's Scottish Dictionary, 

 This is a very different etymology from that suggested by J. M., p. 78. 



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