The Skftmk. 



63 



is a bloodthirsty little creature, and so bold that it will 

 attack animals much larger than itself. It is very 

 destructive to poultry and game, and even pursues 

 hares with success ; those animals, although so fleet of 

 foot appearing to be so fascinated by the approach of 

 their little enemy, that they do not betake themselves 

 to flight, but hop slowly along, until the fangs of the 

 destroyer are fixed in the throat of its victim, when all 

 efforts to shake him off are unavailing. The Ermine is 

 also one of the great enemies of the water-rat, which it 

 will follow into the water. The dwelling-place of the 

 Ermine is a narrow burrow, usually in the midst of a 

 thicket, or furze-bush ; it sometimes takes up its abode 

 in a rabbit burrow. In this country the female produces 

 four or five young at a birth ; but in North America 

 the litter is said to consist of ten or twelve little ones. 



THE SKUNK, (Mustela, or Mephitis Americana,) 

 WHICH is found in most parts of North America, is curi- 

 ously marked with a pair of white stripes running 



