THE FOUMART. 135 



hens, but always aims at the young ones, and never fails to suck, 

 or at le nst to break all the ea'gs it can meet with. The evening 

 is the time when it commences its depredations. 



The weasel seems to hive a strong predilection for every 

 thing of a putrid nature. It conveys its food to its hiding-place, 

 and seldom eats until it begins to putrefy. It is an untractable 

 little animal, arid when confined in a cage, appears in a contin- 

 ual state of agitation. M. de Buflbn asserted the impossibility 

 of taming the weasel, but his error has been corrected by experi- 

 ment : for in some instances it has been rendered as familiar as 

 a dog or a squirrel. 



The method used in taming it, is to stroke it gently on the 

 back ; but it must be threatened, and even beat, when it attempts 

 to bite. 



The female weasel generally produces four or five young ones 

 at a litter, having previously prepared a nest of leaves, moss, and 

 herbage, for their reception. M. de Buffon asserts, that in his 

 neighbourhood a weasel with three young ones was found in the 

 body of a wolf that had been suspended fiom a tree by the hind- 

 feet; and although the wolf was completely putrescent, the 

 weasel had formed a nest in its thorax. 



It has been observed of these animals, that when asleep, their 

 muscles are so extremely flaccid, that they may be taken up by 

 the bead, and swung to and fro, like a pendulum, several times, 

 before they awake. 



The bite of this diminutive animal is generally fatal, as it al- 

 ways seizes its prey near the head, and fixes its teeth in a vital 

 part. An eagle having seized a weasel, and carried it up into 

 Ihe air. the little captive so far disengaged itself as to bite its 

 enemy in the throat, which soon brought him to the ground, and 

 thus effected his escape. 



THE FOUMART 



Is an animal not uncommon in England: in shape it resem- 

 bles the weasel, but far exceeds it in size, being not less than 

 from fifteen to eighteen inches in length, exclusive of the tail, 

 which is about five or six: it is generally of a deep chocolate 

 colour. Its habits are perfectly similar to those of the weasel, 

 and its mode of living in every respect precisely the same. It 

 is exceedingly fierce and bold. When attacked by a dog, it fastens 

 upon his nose with so keen a bite, as often to compel him to de- 

 sist ; and when unable to conquer, will at least defend itself to 

 the last extremity. 



In regard to this animal's mode of procuring subsistence, a 

 curious circumstance was once observed : 



During a severe storm, a foumart was traced in the snow from 



