WEASEL KIND. 15 



manner of a stripe of about half an inch broad. 

 The fore part of the legs then assumed the same 

 colour ; a part of the head, the thighs, and the 

 tail, were the last that changed ; but at the end 

 of the month there was no white remaining, ex- 

 cept on those parts which are always white in 

 this species, particularly the throat and the belly. 

 However, he had not the pleasure of seeing this 

 animal resume its former whiteness, although he 

 kept it for above two years ; which, without 

 doubt, was owing to its imprisoned state ; this 

 colour being partly owing to its stinted food, and 

 partly to the rigour of the season. During its 

 state of confinement, this little animal always 

 continued very wild and untractable ; forever in 

 a state of violent agitation, except when asleep, 

 which it often continued for three parts of the 

 day. Except for its most disagreeable scent, it 

 was an extremely pretty creature, its eyes spright- 

 ly, its physiognomy pleasant, and its motions so 

 swift that the eye could scarcely attend them. 

 It was fed with eggs and flesh, but it always let 

 them putrefy before it touched either. As some 

 of this kind are known to be fond of honey, it 

 was tried to feed this animal with such food for 

 a while : after having for three or four days de- 

 prived it of other food, it ate of this, and died 

 shortly after'; a strong proof of its being a dis- 

 tinct species from the polecat or the martin, who 

 feed upon honey, but otherwise pretty much re- 

 semble the ermine in their figure and dispositions. 

 In the north of Europe and Siberia, their skins 

 make a valuable article of commerce, and they 



