84 MUSTELTDJi 



This weasel appears spread throughout the whole range of Himalayas, 

 from Cashmere to Darjeeling, chiefly on the middle and outer ranges. 

 Adams states that it is common in Cashmere, and very destructive to 

 poultry, <kc. A dark variety is indicated in the list of Hodgson's col- 

 lections. 



The Stoat or Ermine, M. erminra, is confidently stated to occur in 

 the Himalayas, in Nepal by Hodgson, and Adams states it to be common 

 in the lower and middle regions of the Western Himalayas ; but there 

 do not appear to be Himalayan examples of this species in any of our 

 museums. It is reddish-brown above, white beneath, the extremity of 

 the tail black in winter, changing to yellowish-white, retaining the black 

 tail tip. 



98. Mustela kathiah. 



HODGSON, J. A. S. IV. 702. BLYTH, Cat. 203. M. auriventer, HODG- 

 SON. Kathia nyal, Nepal. 



THE YELLOW-BELLIED WEASEL. 



Descr. Deep rich brown above, golden-yellow below ; chin whitish ; 

 ears, limbs, and tail concolorous with body j tail cylindric, tapered, half 

 the length of the animal. 



Length, snout to rump, 10 inches ; tail (minus the hair) 5. The fur 

 is short, shining and adpressed, and the palms and soles are clad in hair. 



A horribly offensive yellowish-gray fluid exudes from two openings 

 placed near the root of the tail. 



This weasel has only been found in the eastern Himalayas, from Nepal, 

 and probably Bootan, as a specimen said to be from Assam is in the 

 Museum of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta. 



" This beautiful creature," writes Mr. Hodgson, "is exceedingly prized 

 by the Nepalese for its service in ridding houses of rats. It is easily tamed, 

 and such is the dread of it common to all murine animals, that not one 

 will approach a house where it is domiciled. Hats and mice seem to have 

 an instinctive sense of its hostility to them, so much so that as soon as it 

 is introduced into a house they are observed to hurry away in all directions, 

 being apprized no doubt of its presence by the peculiar odour it emits. 

 Its ferocity and courage are made subservient to the amusement of the 

 rich, who train it to attack large fowls, geese, and even goats and sheep. 

 The latter, equally with the former, fall certain sacrifices to its agility 



