Flesh-Eating Land Mammals 



belonging to a flock-master in the county of Kincardine, 

 not many years ago. 



The Polecat is an animal of some 2 feet in length, 

 the tail being about 6 inches. It has a heavy neck, 

 rather pointed muzzle, and prominent upper canines. 

 The ears are short, eyes small and dark brown in 

 colour, with a general expression of cruel ferocity 

 impressed upon its ferret-like head. As a rule, the 

 colour of the Polecat alters with climatic conditions. 

 For instance, the summer coat actually overshadows 

 many of the minor details, which the eye might other- 

 wise note. Round about the ears and mouth there are 

 touches of white hair, but when the denser coat appears 

 these markings almost disappear, and the Polecat at a 

 glance looks a grizzly blackish-brown colour all over. 

 In the colder months it becomes paler, and these 

 marks then appear more prominent. 



The animal is a night-prowler, and does not halt at 

 small game. It will kill almost any creature its own 

 weight, be the latter clothed in fur or feather. It is 

 intensely fond of young rabbits and leverets, but 

 geese, turkeys, or barndoor fowls meet their fate 

 when the Polecat is on the hunt. During the open 

 season it takes up its headquarters amongst stony 

 debris if such is available, or in any hole or crevice in a 

 bank-side. When winter comes on, it seems to hug 

 more sheltered places, such as the neighbourhood of 

 buildings, where the winds are broken and the gales less 

 irritating. A stone wall where there are many corridors 



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