134 THE COMMON WEASEL. 



fore, as in all the other parts of the creation, we discover a sa- 

 gacious design in the admirable adaptation of the structure of 

 these animals to their mode of living and obtaining- their food. 



Another distinction belonging to this race of animals, consists 

 in an unctuous matter, continually exuding from glands placed 

 near the anus, which in some, as the ferret, the wecsel, and espe- 

 cially the foumart and the pole-cat, emits an extremely offensive 

 smell ; while, in the civet-cat, the martin, the fine weasel, &c. it 

 affords an agreeable perfume. 



All animals of the weasel kind, are remarkable for rapine and 

 cruelty ; and although the shortness of their legs renders them 

 slow in pursuit of their prey, they supply the deficiency of speed 

 by assiduity and cunning. They always suck the blood of every 

 animal they kill, before they eat the flesh. 



These are the most striking peculiarities common to the wea- 

 sel kind ; the different species of which so nearly resemble each 

 other, that the view of one will give a very just idea of the rest. 

 The principal difference is in size. They all subsist nearly in the 

 same manner, and on the same kind of food, and prey indiscrim- 

 inately on almost every quadruped, volatile and reptile, that is 

 weaker and less than themselves. They are particularly destruc- 

 tive to poultry and rabbits, as well as to rats and mice, and are 

 keen devourers of eggs. 



THE COMMON WEASEL, 



Does not exceed seven or eight inches in length, from the nose 

 to the tail, and the latter is not above three inches long. The 

 height of this animal is not more than three inches. Notwith- 

 standing its diminutive size, no animal of this class is more de- 

 structive in warrens, and among poultry. It is also a great de- 

 stroyer of eggs, which it sucks with extreme avidity. It is very 

 common in Great Britain, and is well known on account of these 

 kinds of depredations. It will attack a hare, which is often ter- 

 rified into such a state of imbecility at the sight of this diminu- 

 tive assailant, as to give itself up to it without resistance. To 

 rats and mice it is a more dreadful enemy even than the cat, for 

 being more slender, it pursues them into their holes. It is, there- 

 fore, very useful to the farmer in out-houses and granaries, which 

 in winter it commonly frequents, and effectually clears of all 

 sorts of vermin ; but it often counterbalances these benefits, bj 

 its destruction of eggs, and its depredations in the pigeon-houses, 

 where it creeps into the holes and devours the young ones. It 

 also catches by surprise sparrows, and all kinds of small birds, 

 and always follows wherever rats or mice abound. When it 

 enters the poultry-yard, it seldom attacks the cocks, or the old 



