THE POLECAT. 



from entering; and at the same time the vermin 

 will have greater allurement to enter*. 



The voices of the Martin and Polecat are said to 

 be very different; that of the former being shrill 

 and loud, and that of the latter somewhat deep and 

 hollow. Both the animals, however, have a harsh 

 and angry growl, which they often repeat when 

 irritated. The smell of the Polecat is proverbially 

 fetid, the animal being furnished, like several others 

 of its tribe, with certain receptacles for secreting 

 a thickish fluid, which has a peculiarly strong and 

 offensive odour. When the animal is heated or 

 enraged, the stench is sometimes perceptible to a 

 very considerable distance. The fur, notwithstand- 

 ing, is both beautiful and valuable. It is said, 

 however, that the skins taken from such animals as 

 are killed in winter, are the most valuable, from 

 their being far less fetid than those of Polecats 

 caught at any other season of the year. 



The females produce their young, from three to 

 six. in number, in the beginning of summer. This 

 is usually done either in or near the outhouses of 

 some farm ; and they continue with their offspring 

 whilst the males are gone out to reside in the fields 

 or woods. Like the Martins, they do not suckle 

 them long, but soon accustom them to animal 

 food. 



Daniel's Rural Sports. 



The 



