ERMINE, OR STOAT. WEASEL, 83 



prefer complaints, or award punishments, against delin- 

 quents, and share the booty according to their agreements. 

 Sables vary much in value, according to their fineness, and 

 the beauty of their colours. 



THE ERMINE, OR STOAT. 



This beautiful little animal is about nine inches long. 

 During the summer, it is of a brown colour; but no 

 sooner does the winter set in than its coat becomes thick, 

 soft, and white, adapted to the season ; and at that period 

 it is sought after with the utmost avidity. 



The winter furs of the ermine constitute a valuable ar- 

 ticle of commerce in those countries where it is found. 

 In Siberia, these animals are commonly taken in traps 

 baited with flesh. In Norway they are either shot with 

 blunt arrows, or caught in snares. 



The ermine has been sometimes found white in Great 

 Britain, and then it receives the appellation of the white 

 weasel. The fur, however, in this country is compara- 

 tively of little value ; being neither so thick, close, nor 

 shining, as in the more northern regions. 



THE WEAS-EL. 



This is the smallest of the tribe to which it gives name ; 

 the body seldom exceeding six or seven inches in length ; 

 while the legs are not more than an inch and a half. The 

 head, tail, legs, feet, and the upper parts of the body, are 

 of a pale tawny-brown colour ; but the lower parts are 

 white. 



Though diminutive in size, the weasel is nevertheless a 

 formidable enemy to many animals greatly its superior in 

 that respect. It is very destructive to rabbits, poultry, 

 and young birds ; but, as some counterbalance for the de- 

 predations which it commits on useful animals, it also 

 destroys many that are noxious. 



No arts can tame this creature. Though sometimes 

 confined in a cage for amusement or inspection, it reso- 

 lutely abstains from food while any person is in sight, anJ 

 E 6 



