THE COMMON WEESEL. 183 



full grown. They continued so savage, that he 

 was obliged to have their canine-teeth sawed off, 

 and to chastise them frequently; and, after all, he 

 could never soften their disposition much. Since 

 it is now perfectly ascertained that Weesels may be 

 domesticated, it is a consideration of importance, 

 whether the introduction of them into ships might 

 not be of service, in clearing them of those mul- 

 titudes of Rats with which they are oftentimes 

 known to be infested. 



The female Weesel generally brings forth her 

 progeny in some outhouse or decayed tree, in the 

 spring of the year. The number of young ones at 

 a litter is from four to six. She prepares for 

 them a comfortable nest of straw, leaves, and 

 moss. We are assured by M. de BufFon, that, 

 in his neighborhood of Montbard, a female 

 Weesel, with three young ones, was taken out 

 of the body of a Wolf that had been hung on a 

 tree by the hind feet. The Wolf was in a state of 

 putrefaction ; and the Weesel had formed her nest, 

 of leaves and herbage, in the thorax. 



In the northern parts of the continent, Wee- 

 sels change their colour in winter, and become 

 white. Mr. Pennant speaks of having seen them 

 white, in Isla, one of the western islands of Scot- 

 land. The Russian peasants catch these animals 

 by means of Dogs, or with springs and other 

 snares. The skins of those taken in winter sell 



N4 at 



