76 ANIMALS OF THE 



are found there much more frequently than 

 among us. In Siberia they burrow in the fields, 

 and are taken in traps baited with flesh. In Nor- 

 way they are either shot with blunt arrows, or 

 taken in traps made of two flat stones ; one being 

 propped with a stick, to which is fastened a bait- 

 ed string, and when the animals attempt to pull 

 this away, the stone drops and crushes them to 

 death. This animal is sometimes found white in 

 Great Britain, and is then called a white weasel. 

 Its furs, however, among us are of no value, hav- 

 ing neither the thickness, the closeness, nor the 

 whiteness of those which come from Siberia. The 

 fur of the ermine, in every country, changes by 

 time ; for, as much of its beautiful whiteness is 

 given it by certain arts known to the furriers, so 

 its natural colour returns, and its former white- 

 ness can never be restored again. 



THE FERRET. 



THE animal next in size to the ermine is the 

 Ferret ; which is a kind of domestic in Europe, 

 though said to be originally brought from Africa 

 into Spain, which being a country abounding in 

 rabbits, required an animal of this kind, more 

 than any other : however this be, it is not to be 

 found at present among us, except in its domestic 

 state ; and it is chiefly kept tame, for the pur- 

 poses of the warren. 



