90 STOAT. Class I. 



proportion to the bulk of the animal, and more 

 hairy -, whereas the tail of the weefel is fhorter, 

 and of the fame color with the body : thirdly, the 

 edges of the ears, and the ends of the toes in this 

 animal, are of a yellowiHi white. It may be added, 

 that the float haunts woods, hedges and meadows ; 

 efpecially where there are brooks, whofe fides are 

 covered with fmall bufhes ; and fometimes (but lefs 

 frequently than the weefel) inhabits barns, and 



other buildings. 



Ermines. In the moft northern parts of Europe, thefe 

 animals regularly change their color in winter ; and 

 become totally white, except the end of the tail, 

 which continues invariably black ; and in that ftate 

 are called Ermines : I am informed that the fame 

 is obferved in the highlands of Scotland. The 

 fkins and tails are a very valuable article of com- 

 merce in Norway^ Lapland^ Rujfia, and other cold 

 countries ; where they are found in prodigious 



How TA- numbers. They are alfo very common in KamU 

 fchatka and Siberia^, In Siberia they burrow in the 

 fields, and are taken in traps baited with flelh. In 

 Norway -\ they are either Ihot with blunt arrows, 

 or taken in traps made of two flat (tones, one being 

 propped up with a ftick, to which is faftned a 

 baited firing, which when the animals nibble, the 

 flone falls down and crufhes them to death. The 

 Laplanders take them in the fame manner, only in- 



* BflPs Tra^jeis^ '^' }99- t -^^l/^' ^ior^-j^ay, ii. 25. 



ftead 



KEN, 



