388 STRIATED WEESEL. 



tudinal white stripes on the back : the tail very 

 bushy or full of hair. In the different specimen^ 

 of this animal there is some slight variation ob- 

 servable in the proportion of the dorsal stripes, 

 as well as in the colour of the tail, which is some- 

 times marked with a pair of lateral white bands, 

 and sometimes almost entirely white. It its man- 

 ners and horrible vapour, when irritated, it per- 

 fectly agrees with the preceding, as well as with 

 the two succeeding species; and the same de- 

 scription of this offensive quality may be applied 

 to all the four. If the accounts given of this 

 odious vapour are not aggravated by the abhor- 

 rent recollection of those who have experienced 

 its effects, every other ill smell which nature can 

 produce, is surpassed by the overpowering fcetor of 

 these extraordinary quadrupeds. In consequence 

 of the dreadful emanation the dogs are said to re- 

 linquish their pursuit, and the men to fly with 

 precipitation from the tainted spot: but if unfor- 

 tunately the least particle of the fluid which the 

 animal commonly discharges at this juncture, 

 should happen to light on the clothes of the 

 hunter, he becomes a general nuisance wherever 

 he appears, and is obliged to divest himself of his 

 dress, and practise all the arts of ablution, in or- 

 der to be restored to the society of mankind. 



To add to the history of these strange circum- 

 stances, it is affirmed that the animal is sometimes 

 tamed, and rendered domestic; in which state 

 it is pretended that it never emits its pestilential 

 vapour unless greatly displeased or irritated: if 



