POLECAT. 417 



and will visit the dairy in order to indulge in this 

 article : it has been known to attack bee-hives in 

 the winter season, and to feed on the honey. 

 The spring is the season in which it breeds ; the 

 female producing three or four at a birth, which 

 she is said to suckle but a short time, accustoming 

 them early to suck the blood of the animals which 

 she brings to them, as well as eggs, &c. 



The Polecat has been known to breed with the 

 Ferret, and it is said to be a practice with war- 

 reners, who keep these animals, to procure a mixed 

 breed from time to time, which are of a colour 

 between the Ferret and the Polecat, or of a dingy 

 yellowish-brown. 



The Polecat is a strong and active creature, 

 and will spring with great vigour and celerity 

 when preparing to attack its prey, or to escape from 

 pursuit; at Ayhich time it arches its back consi- 

 derably, in order to assist its effort. It is of a 

 smell proverbially fetid, being furnished, like se- 

 veral others of the Wecsel tribe, with certain re- 

 ceptacles which secrete a thickish fluid of a pecu- 

 liarly strong and offensive odour. The fur, however, 

 is beautiful, and the skin, when properly dressed, 

 is numbered among the commercial furs, and 

 used for tippets and other articles of dress. It is 

 added by Aldrovandus, that the furriers endea- 

 vour to obtain skins taken from such animals 

 as have been killed during the winter, as being 

 far less fetid than those killed in the spring and 

 summer. 



