THE ERMINE, OR STOAT. 329 



them being found, with three young ones, in the carcass of a 

 wolf that was grown putrid, and that had been hung up, by 

 the hind legs as a terror to others. Into this horrid retreat the 

 Weasel thought proper to retire to bring forth her young ; she 

 had furnished the cavity with hay, grass, and leaves ; and the 

 young were just brought forth when they were discovered by 

 a peasant passing that way. 



THE ERMINE, OR STOAT. 



Next to the Weasel in size, and perfectly alike in figure, is 

 the Ermine. The difference between this and the former 

 animal is so very small, that many, and among the rest, 

 Linnaeus, who gives but one description of both, have con- 

 founded the two kinds together. However, their differences 

 are sufficient to induce later naturalists to suppose the two 

 kinds distinct ; and as their lights seem preferable, we choose 

 to follow their descriptions. 



The Stoat, or Ermine, differs from the Weasel in size, be- 

 ing usually nine inches long ; whereas the former is not 

 much above six. The tail of the Ermine is always tipped 

 with black, and is longer in proportion to the body, and fur- 

 nished with hair. The edges of the ears and the ends of the 

 toes in this animal are of a yellowish white ; and although 

 it is of the same color with the weasel, being of a lightish 

 brown, and though both this animal, as well as the weasel, in 

 the most northern parts of Europe, changes its color in winter, 

 and becomes white, yet even then the Weasel may be easily 

 distinguished from the Ermine by the tip of the tail, which in 

 the latter is always black. 



It is well known that the fur of the Ermine is the most 

 valuable of any hitherto known ; and it is in winter only that 

 this little animal has it of the proper color and consistence. 

 In summer, the Ermine, as was said before, is brown, and it 

 may at that time more properly be called the Stoat. There 

 are few so unacquainted with quadrupeds as not to perceive 

 this change of color in the hair, which in some degree obtains 

 in them all. The horse, the cow, and the goat, all mani- 



