182 THE COMMON WEESEL. 



expressing signs of discontent and dislike. At 

 different times it gnawed asunder four of the small 

 upright sticks, in order to escape. 



The voracity of this little creature was so great, 

 that after eating it was generally found to weigh 

 about one fifth part more than when its stomach 

 was empty. 



The writer of the above accounts informs us, 

 that the power of smelling, in all the Weesels which 

 he kept, was exquisite. They could discover, at the 

 distance of twelve paces, a bit of meat, though no 

 bigger than a cherry-stone, and folded up in paper. 

 He says that he has been much surprised to observe 

 a Weesel which was very hungry, break its wire 

 chain, leap upon him, enter his pocket, tear open 

 a small packet, and devour, almost in an instant, 

 the food that was concealed in it. Their sight is 

 likewise remarkably acute; and their eyes, like 

 those of the Cat, are often luminous in the dark. 



This writer asserts, that a Weesel is able to creep 

 into a hole only seven or eight lines in width*. 



According to the original account given of the 

 Weesel, by M. de Buffon, it was considered im- 

 possible to render these animals perfectly tame. 

 In his supplementary writings, however, we are 

 informed, that all the individuals which were 

 brought to him, had been caught after they were 



* Buffon par Sonnini, xxv. p. 130144. 



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