White-furred Stoats^ 591 



described as so vicious, that it was considered unsafe to exhibit 

 them." These, we presume, are the two which, added to the 

 four mentioned, constitute the six. ..." Each of those which 

 we saw had a separate stable, and no less than ten keepers to 

 wait upon it," &c. ..." In the stables of the white elephants 

 we were shown 



" 2 TOO IwMte^Mon/cei/si whose presence, the keepers insisted, 

 preserved their royal charges [the white elephants] from sick- 

 ness. These were of a perfectly pure 'white colour^ and of the 

 tribe of monkeys with long tails. They were in perfect health, 

 and had been long caught ; but we were advised not to play 

 with them, as they were of a sullen and mischievous disposi- 

 tion. These were both taken in the forest of Pisiluk, about 

 ten days' journey up the Menam. On enquiry, we found all 

 the white elephants were either from the kingdom of Lao or 

 Kamboja, and none from Siam itself, nor from the Malay 

 countries tributary to it ; which last, indeed, had never been 

 known to afford a white elephant." In England it is believed 

 that allowing a goat to subsist among horses promotes the 

 health of these. 



Species of Birds, of which Individuals in Plumage of a Colour 

 anomalous to that of the Species, and permanent, have been knoison, 

 — See in p. 593 — 598. 



The Stoats seen in TVhite Fur are Individuals of a White- 

 furred Variety. (V. 77. 293—295. 393. 718.) — • Zoophilus 

 states, in V. 718 — 722., that stoats change their colour at a 

 certain period of the year, and become white. I am convinced 

 that this is a mistake, and that the white is a distinct variety. 

 I have seen them of this colour in every season of the year, 

 on what are called the mosses, on the western coast of Lanca- 

 shire ; and I particularly recollect that, while resident in Wor- 

 cestershire, one of these white animals seldom allowed a week 

 to pass without showing himself in front of my house, while 

 threading the mazes of a fence, which he entered from the 

 nearest point of a coppice from which he always sallied. 

 This animal would not have excited so much attention, but 

 that he invariably pursued his course over a gate-post which 

 stood in the fence ; and this constant observance of a singular 

 practice obtained him the honour to be distinguished as " tlie 

 stoat." The common stoat abounded in the same neighbour- 

 hood ; and I, with a clever terrier, captured them at all seasons, 

 and always of the same colour. It is possible that the stoat 

 changes colour ; but, if he does, I am convinced that it is purely 

 an occasional and rare occurrence. — Henry Berry, Bootle, 

 near Liverpool, August 27. 1834-. . , 



The Stoat in its White Garb not frecpiently seen near Stam- 



