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OF WEESELS IN GENERAL. 



THE Weesels are all carnivorous animals. From 

 their slender and lengthened bodies, short legs, 

 and the very free motion allowed in every direc- 

 tion, by the loose, articulations of the spine, they 

 are well formed for pursuing their prey (such; 

 principally, as Rats, Moles, and other small quadru- 

 peds) into their deepest recesses, in the holes of 

 old buildings, the crevices of rocks, or burrows in 

 the ground. Even where the surrounding space 

 will little more than admit their entrance, so great 

 is the flexibility of their bodies, that they can gene- 

 rally turn round whenever they please, in order to 

 come out. Constituted by nature to subsist on 

 animals, many of which are endowed both with 

 strength and courage, the Weesels possess an 

 undaunted, and, in their wild state, a ferocious 

 disposition. They likewise exhibit a great de- 

 gree of cunning and sagacity, as well in the pur- 

 suit of prey, as in themselves avoiding the attacks 

 of such animals as would otherwise destroy them. 



All the English species, it is believed, are able to 

 mount into trees after their prey, and even to 

 climb walls of considerable height, with great 

 agility. Out of our five species, there is only one, 



the 



