HISTORY OF VERMONT. Ill 



and all kinds of small animals. The weasel is 

 often found in hollow trees, and he frequently 

 enters into houses, barns, and other buildings, 

 in search of grain, chickens, mice, and young 

 animals. In Vermont, the weasel is about twelve 

 inches in length ; very narrow and slim, and 

 Aveighs about twelve ounces. The female bears 

 three, four, or five, at a birth ; but they do not 

 appear to be very numerous. 



The Ermine is the most beautiful quadru. 

 ped, which is seen in our woods. In its form, 

 dimensions, activity, and fecundity, it resembles 

 the v/easel, but is rather larger ; one of them 

 weighed fourteen ounces. Its colour is a beau- 

 tiful white : The tail is tipped with a beautiful 

 black. Some of these animals have a stripe of 

 dark brown, or mouse colour, extending along 

 the back, from the head to the tail ; the other 

 parts being perfectly white. Tiiis little, brisk, 

 sprightly and beautiful animal, has the most fine 

 and delicate fur, tliat can be imaghied ; and the 

 animal itself is one of the greatest beauties of 

 nature. 



Of the Sq^uirrel we have four or five spe- 

 cies ; grey, black, red, striped, and flying. 



The Grey Squirrel is the largest, and most 

 common. This squirrel is about thirteen or 

 fourteen inches in length, w^ith a large bushy 

 tail, as long as the body. It is of a beautiful 

 silver grey colour, and has a fine soft fur. Its 

 nest is in the crotch, or hollow of a tree ; its 

 food, corn, acorns, and nuts. It lays up a store 

 of these provisions against winter, in the hollow 

 of old trees. The female bears her young in 

 the spring, and has generally three or four at a 



