I&O THE COMMON WEESEL. 



which was the instrument of its punishment, when- 

 ever it appeared enraged, or attempted to bite. 

 On all occasions, after offending, when it saw this 

 implement taken down, it trembled, crouched with 

 its belly close to the ground, and bent down its 

 head, in evident token of fear. 



This little animal, which to its owner was usually 

 very submissive, was towards other persons exceed- 

 ingly petulant and ill tempered; and would bite 

 severely all those who thoughtlessly attempted 

 to play with it. Cats were, at all times, the 

 objects of its enmity. It bit the nose of a large 

 mastiff Dog, which one day came to smell at it, 

 in its owner's hands. On such occasions, it ex- 

 erted its shrill cry of passion, chi, chi, chi, chi; and 

 always emitted its fetid odour, which generally 

 caused the animals immediately to run off. It was 

 at all times anxious to seize on chickens that hap- 

 pened to approach it; and in some instances, it 

 has destroyed a whole brood, of ten or twelve, at a 

 time. 



When it slept during the day, it usually selected 

 a recess of its owner's cabinet, where it had his 

 pocket handkerchief for its bed. On these occa- 

 sions it coiled itself up into a very small compass, 

 and in somewhat of a spherical form, having its 

 head betwixt its two hinder legs. Its sleep was 

 very profound ; and the animal was sometimes 

 heard to snore. At night, it would frequently 

 get betwixt the sheets of its master's bed, and 



having 



