21 6 November 1748. 



hcufe. At Philadelphia I once faw'a great num- 

 ber of people on a market day throwing at a dog 

 that was fo unfortunate as to have been engaged 

 with a polecat juft before, and to carry about 

 him the tokens of its difpleafure. Perfons when 

 travelling through a foreft, are often troubled 

 with the ftink which this creature makes ; and 

 fometimes the air is fo much infected that it is 

 neceffary to hold one's nofe. If the wind blows 

 from the place where the polecat has been, or if 

 it be quite calm, as at night, the fmell is more 

 ilrong and difagreeable. 



IN the winter of 1749, a polecat, tempted by 

 a dead lamb, came one night near the farm houfe 

 where I then flept. Being immediately purfued 

 by feme dogs, it had recourfe to its ufual expe- 

 dient in order to get rid of them. The attempt 

 fucceeded, the dogs hot chooiing to continue the 

 purfuit : the ftink was fo extremely great, that, 

 though I was at fome diftance, it affected me in 

 the fame manner. as if I had been ftifled; and it* 

 was fo difagreeable to the cattle, that it made them 

 roar very loudly : however, by. degrees it vanifh- 

 ed. Towards the end of the fame year one of 

 thefe animals got into our cellar, but no ftench 

 was obferved, for it only vents that when it is 

 purfued. The cook, however, found for feveral 

 days together that fome of the meat which was 

 kept there was eaten ; and fufpe&ing that it was 

 done by the cat, fhe fhut up all avenues, in order 

 to prevent their getting at it. But the nex4: 

 night, being awoke by a noife in the cellar, he 

 went down, and, though it was quite dark, faw 

 &n animal with two ihining eyes, which feemed 



to 



