THE STOAT, OR ERMINE. 189 



Nevertheless, the Ermine continued to retain its 

 brown coat, as in the preceding summer, till the 

 month of March, when it died*. 



The above animal is described, in very few 

 words, by M. de Buflfbn. He says that it continued 

 extremely wild till the last; and that, although it 

 was a pretty little creature, yet its nauseous odour 

 rendered it very unpleasant. It had lively eyes, 

 and a pleasing countenance; and its movements 

 were so rapid, that it was almost impossible for the 

 eye to follow them. It was usually fed on eggs 

 and flesh, but would never eat the latter till it was 

 quite putrid. It disliked honey; and M. de Buffon 

 having, with great cruelty, kept it for three days 

 without any other food, it died after eating a small 

 quantity f. 



The female Stoats breed in the same manner, 

 and produce about the same number of young, as 

 the Weesels. 



The skins of Ermines are a valuable article 

 of commerce in several countries of the conti- 

 nent, and particularly betwixt the Russians and 

 Chinese. They are employed in Europe for or- 

 namenting robes of state, and for various parts 

 of female dress. The black tips of the tails are 



* Description del' Hermine, par I^aubenton, quoted in Sonnini's 

 edition of Buffon, xxv. p. 154 157, note. 



f Buffon, par Sonnini, xxv. p. 158. 



considered 



