12 MAMMALIA YERJE. [MUSTELA. 



DESCRIPT. Tail proportionably shorter than in the last sub-genus: 

 space round the mouth, and edge of the ears, white : hair on the body of 

 two kinds; the longer sort somewhat harsh, shining, and of a dusky 

 brown colour; the shorter more woolly, and of a yellowish or tawny 

 white; from the mixing of these two the general tint appears brown 

 with a slight cast of tawny yellow : the legs and tail are of a uniform 

 dusky brown. 



A common inhabitant of woods and plantations in all parts of the 

 country. Preys on game, poultry, eggs, and the smaller quadrupeds : 

 is particularly fond of blood. Produces in the Spring from five to six 

 young. 



* 6. M. Furo, Linn. (Ferret.) Yellowish white with the eyes red. 

 M. Furo, Desm. Mammal, p. 178. Ferret, Shaw, Gen. Zool. vol. i. p. 418. pi. 98. 



DIMENS. Length of the head and body one foot two inches ; of the head two 

 inches six lines ; of the ears six lines ; of the tail five inches six lines. 



DESCRIPT. In general somewhat smaller than the polecat, and of a more slender 

 shape ; the snout is also proportionably longer : colour of the fur bright yellow, 

 here and there tinged with white ; sometimes a mixture of white, black, and tawny, 

 with the tail entirely black. 



Originally a native of Africa, from whence imported into Europe. Known in 

 this country only in a domesticated state, where it is much used in the destruction 

 of rabbits and rats. Supposed by some to be a mere variety of the polecat ; but 

 independently of the differences above mentioned, the circumstance of its being a 

 native of a warmer climate seems to militate against that idea. Habits similar to 

 those of that species. 



7- M. vulgaris, Gmel. (Weasel.) Reddish brown 

 above ; beneath white : tail of the same colour with the 

 body. 



M. vulgaris, Desm. Mammal, p. 179. Flem. Brit. An. p. 13. Common 

 Weasel, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. i. p. 95. pi. 7. no. 17. Shaw, Gen. 

 Zool. vol. i. p. 420. pi. 98. 



DIMENS. Length of the head and body (male) eight inches three 

 lines, (female) seven inches; of the head (male) one inch nine lines, 

 (female) one inch six lines ; of the ears (male) four lines, (female) 

 three lines; of the tail (male) two inches four lines, (female) two 

 inches. 



DESCRIPT. Upper part of the head, neck and body, shoulders, ex- 

 ternal and anterior portions of the fore legs, and hind legs wholly, red- 

 dish brown tinged with yellowish ; the under parts, from the extremity 

 of the lower jaw to the vent, white : a brown spot below each corner 

 of the mouth. 



Var. ft. White, with a few black hairs at the extremity of the tail. 



Common everywhere in the vicinity of barns and outhouses. Devours 

 young birds, eggs, rats, mice, moles, &c. Breeds twice or thrice in the 

 year, and produces from four to six young at a birth. The white variety 

 is rare. Obs. The female of this species is constantly much smaller 

 than the male, and is probably the animal alluded to in White's Nat. 

 Hist, of Selb. (vol. i. p. 73.) under the name of Cane. 



