New Jerfey, Raccoon. 6 1 



cat in the houfe, having kittens, took 

 poffeffion of his bed, and he did not hinder 

 her. 'When the cat went -out, the beaver 

 often took the kitten between his fore paws 

 and held it to his breaft to warm it, and 

 doated upon it ; as foon as the cat returned 

 he gave her the kitten again. Sometimes 

 he grumbled, but never did any hurt, or 

 attempted to bite. 



THE Englijh and the Swedes gave the 

 name of Mink to an animal of this coun- 

 try, which likewife lives either in the wa- 

 ter, or very near it. I have never had an 

 opportunity to fee any more than the Ikin 

 of this animal. But the fhape of the Ikin, 

 and the unanimous accounts I have heard 

 of it, make me conclude with much cer- 

 tainty, that it belonged to the genus of 

 weafe/s or mujlela. The greateft fkin I 

 ever faw, was one foot, eight inches long, 

 a leffer one was about ten inches long, and 

 about three inches, one third broad, before 

 it was cut ; the colour was dark brown, 

 and fometimes almoft black ; the tail was 

 bu(Ly, as that of a marten ; the hair was 

 very clofe ; and the ears fliort, with fhort 

 hair. The length of the feet belonging 

 to the leffer fkin was about two inches 

 long. I am told this animal is fo limilar 

 to the American polecat, or Viyerra puto- 



rius, 



