THE POLECAT. 



295 



sorts, the long and the furry ; but in this animal the two 

 kinds are of different colors ; the longest is black, and the 

 shorter yellowish : the throat, feet, and tail, are blacker 

 than any other parts of the body ; the claws are white un- 

 derneath, and brown above; and the tail is about two 

 inches and a half. 



It is very destructive to young game of all kinds ; but 

 the rabbit seems to be its favorite prey : a single Polecat 

 is often sufficient to destroy a whole warren ; for, with that 

 insatiable thirst for blood which is natural to all the wea- 

 sel kind, it kills much more than it can devour; and I have 

 seen twenty rabbits at a time taken out dead, which they 

 had destroyed, and that by a wound which was hardly 

 perceptible. Their size, however, which is so much larger 

 than the weasel, renders their retreats near houses much 

 <nore precarious; although 1 have seen them burrow near 

 i village, so as scarcely to be extirpated. But, in general, 

 hey reside in woods or thick brakes, making holes under 

 ground of about two yards deep, commonly ending among 

 the roots of large trees, for greater security. In winter, 

 they frequent houses, and make a common practice of rob- 

 bing the hen-roost and the dairy. 



The Polecat is particularly destructive among pigeons, 

 when it gets into a dove-house : without making so much 

 noise as the weasel, it does a great deal more mischief; it 

 despatches each with a single wound in the head ; and, af- 

 ter killing a great number, and satiating itself with their 

 blood, it then begins to think of carrying them home. This 

 it carefully performs, going and returning, and bringing 

 them one by one to its hole ; but if it should happen that 

 the opening by which it got into the dove-house be not 

 large enough for the body of the pigeon to get through, this 

 mischievous creature contents itself with carrying away 

 the heads, and makes a most delicious feast upon the 

 brains. 



It is not less fond of honey ; attacking the hives in win- 



