334 



ANIMALS OF 



It is very destructive to young game of all 

 kinds ;* but the rabbit seems to be its favou- 

 rite prey : a single polecat is often sufficient 

 to destroy a whole warren; for, with that 

 insatiable thirst for blood which is natural to 

 all the weasel kind, it kills much more than 

 it can devour; and I have seen twenty rab- 

 bits at a time taken out dead, which they had 

 destroyed, and that by a wound which was 

 hardly perceptible. Their size, however, 

 which is so much larger than the weasel, ren- 

 ders their retreats near houses much more pre- 

 carious ; although I have seen them burrow 

 near a village, so as scarcely to be extirpated. 

 But, in general, they reside in woods or thick 

 brakes, making holes under ground of about 

 two yards deep, commonly ending among the 

 roots of large trees, for greater security. In 

 winter they frequent houses, and make a com- 

 mon practice of robbing the hen-roost and the 

 dairy. 



The polecat is particularly destructive 

 among pigeons," when it gets intoa dove-house; 

 without making so much noise as the weasel, 

 it does a great deal more mischief; it des- 

 patches each with a single wound in the head; 

 and, after killing a great number, and satia- 

 ting itself with their blood, it then begins to 

 think of carrying them home. This it care- 

 fully performs, going and returning, and bring- 

 ing them one by one to its hole; but if it 

 should happen that the opening by which it 

 got into the dove-house be not large enough 

 for the body of the pigeon to get through, this 

 mischievous creature contents itself with car- 

 rying away the heads, and makes a most de- 

 licious feast upon the brains. 



It is not less fond of honey; attacking the 

 hives in winter, and forcing the bees away. 

 It does not remove far from houses in winter, 

 as its prey is not so easily found in the woods 

 during that season. The female brings forth 

 her young in summer, to the number of five or 

 six at a time ; these she soon trains to her own 

 rapacious habits, supplying the want of milk, 

 which no carnivorous quadruped has in plen- 

 ty, with the blood of such animals as she hap- 

 pens to seize. The fur of this animal is con- 

 sidered as soft and warm; yet it is in less es- 

 timation than some of a much inferior kind, 



British Zoology, vol. i. p. 78. *> Buflbn. 



from its offensive smell, which can never be 

 wholly removed, or suppressed. The polecat 

 seems to be an inhabitant of the temperate 

 climates, scarce any being found towards the 

 north, and but very few in the warmer latitudes. 

 The species appear to be confined in Europe, 

 from Poland to Italy. It is certain, that these 

 animals are afraid of the cold, as they are 

 often seen to come into houses in winter, and 

 as their tracks are never found in the snow, 

 near their retreats. It is probable, also, that 

 they are afraid of heat, as they are but thin- 

 ly scattered in the southern climates. 



THE MARTIN. 



THE Martin is a larger animal than any of 

 the former, being generally eighteen inches 

 long, and the tail ten more. It differs from 

 the polec it, in being about four or five inches 

 longer; its tail also is longer in proportion, 

 and more bushy at the end ; its nose is flatter; 

 its cry is sharper and more piercing; ils co- 

 lours are more elegant; and, what still adds 

 to their beauty, its scent is very unlike the 

 former, instead of being offensive, is consider- 

 ed as a most pleasing perfume. The martin, 

 in short, is the most beautiful of all British 

 beasts of prey : its head is small, and elegant- 

 ly formed : its eyes lively ; its ears are broad, 

 rounded, and open ; its back, its sides, and 

 tail, are covered with a fine thick downy fur, 

 with longer hair intermixed ; the roots are ash 

 colour, the middle of a bright chesnut. the 

 points black ; the head is brown, with a slight 

 cast of red ; the legs, and upper sides of the 

 feet, are of a chocolate colour; the palms, or 

 under sides, are covered with a thick down, 

 like that of the body ; the feet are broad, the 

 claws white, large, and sharp, well adapted 

 for the purposes of climbing, but, as in others 

 of the weasel kind, incapable of being sheath- 

 ed or unsheathed at pleasure ; the throyt and 

 breast are white; the belly of the s;ime co- 

 lour with the back, but rather paler; the hair 

 on the tail is very long, especially at the end, 

 where it appears much thicker than near the 

 insertion. 



c Buflbn. 



