MUSTELA. 145 
No. 180. MusTELA (VISON: Gray) SUB-HEMACHALANA. 
The Sub-Hemachal Weasel (Jerdon’s No. 97). 
NatTivE NAaMEs.—Zimiong, Bhotia; Sang-king, Lepcha; Xran or 
Gran, Kashmiri. 
DEscrIPTION.-—“ Uniform bright brown, darker along the dorsal line ; 
nose, upper lip, and forehead, with two inches of the end of the tail black- 
brown ; mere edge of upper lip and whole of lower jaw hoary ; a short 
longitudinal white stripe occasionally on the front of the neck, and 
some vague spots of the same laterally, the signs, I suspect, of immatu- 
rity; feet frequently darker than the body or dusky brown ; whiskers dark ; 
fur close, glossy and soft, of two sorts, or fine hair and soft wool, the 
latter and the hair basally of dusky hue, but the hair externally bright 
brown ; head, ears, and limbs more closely clad than the body, tail more 
laxly, tapering to the point.” — Hodgson. 
S1zE.—Head and body about 12 inches ; tail, 6 inches. 
Jerdon calls this the Himalayan Weasel, but I have preferred to 
translate Hodgson’s name, which, I confess, puzzled me for some time 
till I found out there was a Hemachal range in Thibet. 
No. 181. MUSTELA (GYMNOPUS: Gray) KATHIAH. 
The Yellow-bellied Weasel ( Jerdon’s No. 98). 
Native NaMe.—Xathia-nyal, Nepalese. 
Hasitat.—Nepal, Bhotan. 
DescrirTion.—Dark brown ; upper lip, chin, throat, chest, under- 
side of body and front of thighs, bright yellow; tail dark brown, shorter 
than the body and head, tapering, and of the same colour to the tip ; 
the soles of the hind feet bald ; pads well deveioped, exposed. 
S1zE.—Head and body, ro inches; tail, 5 inches, 
Hodgson states that a horribly offensive yellowish-grey fluid exudes 
from two subcaudal glands. He says that the Nepalese highly prize 
this little animal for its services in ridding houses of rats. It is easily 
tamed, and such is the dread of it common to all murine animals that 
not one will approach a house wherein it is domiciled. Rats and mice 
seem to have an instinctive sense of its hostility to them, so much so 
that when it is introduced into a house they are observed to hurry away 
in all directions, being apprised, no doubt, of its presence by the 
peculiar odour it emits. Its ferocity and courage are made subservient 
to the amusement of the rich, who train it to attack large fowls, geese, 
and even goats and sheep. It seizes these by the great artery of the 
neck, and does not quit its hold till the victim sinks exhausted from the 
loss of blood—a cruel pastime which one could only expect of a 
barbarous people. 
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