CARNIVORA. 185 



soles of the feet quite naked ; total length 16 inches. 

 Inhabits Java. 



Must. Sarmatica. The Perouasca Deep rich 

 brown; back and flanks mottled with yellow; throat 

 and belly black. Inhabits Poland and southern 

 Russia. 



Must, vulgaris. The Common Weasel. Red- 

 dish-brown above ; white beneath ; total length 7 \ 

 inches. Inhabits the temperate zone of the northern 

 hemisphere ; towards the north it assumes a white 

 livery in winter, and is interesting, on account 

 of the singular boldness of character evinced by 

 them, when roused to fury attacking even man, 

 with a spirit far surpassing the bull dog or the lion, 

 and displaying in quest of their prey a wonderful 

 recklessness, often seizing animals far larger than 

 themselves by the throat, and remaining suspended 

 till their victim drops from exhaustion. 



The African variety is double the size ; yellowish 

 underneath, with a brown line along the abdomen. 



But one of the animals most interesting of this 

 genus, though perhaps not actually distinct, is 



Must, erminea. The Stoat or Ermine. Yellow- 

 ish-white in the winter dress, and light brown in 

 summer. In Southern Persia, &c., the colour never 

 changes; but, towards the north, even in Wales 

 and Scotland, the winter fur is white, with the tip 

 of the tail black. In this state it is the Must, 

 ponticus of Pliny, and is found in the Arctic re- 

 gions, as far as birch forests extend, spreading over 

 Northern Europe, Kamtschatka, Siberia, the Kurile 



