THE WEASEL. 295 



men. But our Hanoverian, having a most inordinate 

 appetite for the good things of this world, is ever 

 on the stir in the very midst of its enemies, to 

 satisfy the cravings of its capacious stomach ; and 

 it will cater for itself the four and twenty hours 

 throughout. Hence, your housekeeper complains 

 that it will try its tooth on primest Stilton in 

 broad daylight ; and that it will have its whiskers 

 in the cream-bowl, even whilst the dairy-maid is 

 gone up stairs with butter for the breakfast-table. 

 Still, my darling Hanoverian has nothing but an 

 ordinary set of teeth wherewith to protect itself, 

 although exposed to ten times more danger than 

 the foumart, which last has a fetid gland given 

 it by Nature "as a defence " in addition, I may add, 

 to vast muscular strength, and to two full rows of 

 sharp and well-assorted teeth. 



This being the case, let us reject the Transatlantic 

 theory, as a thing of emptiness; and if we are 

 called upon for an opinion as to the real uses of 

 the fetid gland in polecats, let us frankly own that 

 we have it not in our power to give any thing 

 satisfactory on the subject. 



No doubt this gland has its express uses in animal 

 economy : so has the gland on the rump of most 

 birds. Still, the uses of the latter remain a mystery. 

 I sometimes think that fear is often an agent in 

 causing the foumart to emit the stifling contents 

 of its gland as I am aware that fear has a wonderful 

 effect on some animals. I have caused a puppy dog 

 to make a mess of itself, by a mere authoritative 

 clenching of my fist; and I once saw a young 

 u 4- 



