COMMON WEASEL. 197 



therefore, as in alHhe other parts of the Creation, we 

 discover a sagacious design in the admirable adaptar 

 tion of the structure of these animals to their mode of 

 living and obtaining their food. 



Another distinction belonging to this race of ani- 

 mals, consists in an unctuous matter, continually ex- 

 uding from glands placed near the anus, which hi 

 some, as the ferret, the weazel, and especially the 

 foumart and the pole-cat, emits an extremely offensive 

 smell; while, in the civet cat, martin, the pine wea- 

 zel, &c. it affords an agreeable perfume. 



All animals of the weazel kind are -remarkable for 

 rapine and cruelty ; and although the shortness of 

 their legs renders them slow in pursuit of their prey, 

 they supply the deficiency of speed by assiduity and 

 cunning. They always suck the bloocl of every ani- 

 mal they kill before they eat the flesh. 



These are the most striking peculiarities common 

 to the weazel kind ; the different species of which so 

 nearly resemble each other, that the view of One will 

 give a very just idea of the rest. The principal dif- 

 ierence is in size* They all subsist nearly in the 

 same manner, and on the same kind of food, and prey 

 indiscriminately on almost every quadruped, volatile 

 and reptile, that is weaker and less than themselves. 

 They are particularly destructive to poultry and rab- 

 bits, as well as to rats and mice, and are keen devour- 

 ers of eggs. 



^THE COMMON WEAZEL 



does not exceed seven or eight inches in length, from 

 the nose to the tail, and the latter is not above three 

 inches long. The height of this animal is not more 

 than three inches. Notwithstanding it& diminutive 

 size, no animal of this class is more destructive in 

 warrens, and among poultry. It is also a great de- 

 stroyer of eggs, which it sucks with extreme avidity. 

 It is very common in this country, and is well known 

 on account of these kinds of depredations. It will at- 

 tack a hare, which is often terrified into such a state 

 of imbecility at the sight of this diminutive assailant, 

 as to give itself up to it without resistance. To rats 

 K 3 



