8o Q^V ADRUPEDS. 



even to the killing children in the cradle ; eafily irritated, then efpe- 

 cially its fmell ofFenfive j its bite very difficult of cure. 



To the ferret kind, we may refer an aninnal which Mr. BufFon calls 

 the Vansire, the fkin of which was fent him fluffed from Madagafcar ; 

 thirteen inches long ; much refembling the ferret, but having twelve 

 grinding teeth, whereas the ferret has but eight. In colour, a dark- 

 brown throughout. 



THE POLECAT 



IS one foot five inches long^ fo much refembles the ferret, that fome 

 have thought them the fame j but is larger, not fo flender, has 

 a blunter nofe ; differs internally, having but fourteen ribs, where- 

 as the ferret has fifteen; wants one breaft bone of the ferret. Warren- 

 ers affert, that they will mix, and this is promoted to improve the breed 

 of ferrets, which, by long confinement, fometimes abates its rapacious 

 difpofition. The produce moft refembles the polecat, being darker than 

 the ferret. 



The polecat is principally a deep chocolate colour ; white about the 

 mouth; ears fhort, rounded, and tipt with white; a little beyond the 

 mouth a flripe begins, which runs backward, partly white, partly yel- 

 low ; its hair (like that of all this clafs) is of two forts ; the long, and 

 the furry ; of diff^erent colours ; the longeil black, the fliorter yellow- 

 ifh ; the throat, feet, and tail are blacked ; the claws white underneath, 

 brown above j tail about fix inches. Is very deftruftive to young game 

 of all kinds ; but the rabbit feems its favourite prey ; a fingle polecat 

 will often deftroy a warren ; it kills much more than it can devour. Ke- 

 fides in woods or thick brakes, making holes under ground of two yards 

 deep, ending among roots of large trees for fecurity. In winter, fre- 

 quents houfes, robs the hen-rooft and the dairy j is particularly dc- 

 ftruftive among pigeons; difpatches each with a fingle wound in tlie 

 head : after killing many, and fatiating itfelf with their blood, carries 

 them one by one to 'its hole ; but if the opening by which it entered 

 the dove- houfe be too fmall for the body of the pigeon to pafs, con- 

 tents itfelf with carrying away the heads, and feafts on the brains. Is 

 fond of honey, attacks the hives in winter, and forces the bees away. 



The 



