326 THE MARTIN. 







is precarious, they live a long time without food ; and if they 

 happen to fall in where it is in plenty, they instantly destroy 

 all about them before they begin to satisfy their appetite, and 

 suck the blood of every animal before they begin to touch its 

 flesh. 



These are the marks common to this kind, all the species 

 of which have a most striking resemblance to each other ; and 

 he that has seen one, in some measure, may be said to have 

 seen all. The chief distinction in this numerous class of ani- 

 mals, is to be taken from the size ; for no words can give the 

 minute irregularities of that outline by which one species is to 

 be distinguished from that which is next it. We will begin, 

 therefore, with the least and the best known of this kind, and 

 still marking the size, will proceed gradually to larger and 

 larger, until we come from the Weasel to the glutton, which 

 we take to be the largest of all. The Weasel will serve as a 

 model for all the rest ; and, indeed, the points in which they 

 differ from this little animal, are but very inconsiderable. 



The Weasel, as was said, is the smallest of this numerous 

 tribe ; its length not exceeding seven inches, from the tip of 

 the nose to the insertion of the tail. This length, however, 

 seems to be very great, if we compare it with the height of 

 the animal, which is not above an inch and a half. In meas- 

 uring the wolf, we find him to be not above once and a half 

 as long as he is high ; in observing the Weasel, we find it near 

 five times as long as it is high, which shows an amazing dis- 

 proportion. The tail also, which is bushy, is two inches and 

 a half long, and adds to the apparent length of this little 

 animal's body. The color of the Weasel is of a bright red 

 on the back and sides, but white under the throat and the 

 belly. It has whiskers like a cat ; and thirty-two teeth, 

 which is two more than any of the cat kind ; and these also 

 seem better adapted for tearing and chewing, than those of 

 the cat kind are. The eyes are little and black ; the ears 

 short, broad, and roundish ; and have a fold at the lower part, 

 which makes them look as if they were double. Beneath the 

 corners of the mouth, on each jaw, is a spot of brown. 



