WEASEL KIND. 97 



so extremely fetid from the cause above men- 

 tioned, we may consider these also as being fetid 

 from the same causes. Besides, they are not 

 furnished with glands to give their urine such a 

 smell ; and the analogy between them and the 

 weasel kind being so strong in other respects, we 

 may suppose they resemble each other in this. 

 It has also been said, that they take this me- 

 thod of ejecting their excrement to defend them- 

 selves against their pursuers ; but it is much more 

 probable, that this ejection is the convulsive ef- 

 fect of terror, and that it serves as their defence 

 without their own concurrence. Certain it is, that 

 they never smell thus horridly except when en- 

 raged or affrighted, for they are often kept tame 

 about the houses of the planters of America with- 

 out being very offensive. 



The habitudes of all these animals are the same, 

 living like all the rest of the weasel kind, as they 

 prey upon smaller animals and birds' eggs. The 

 squash, for instance, burrows like the polecat in 

 the clefts of rocks, where it brings forth its young. 

 It often steals into farm-yards, and kills the poul- 

 try, eating only their brains. Nor is it safe to 

 pursue or offend it, for then it calls up all its 

 scents, which are its most powerful protection. 

 At that time neither men nor dogs will offer to 

 approach it ; the scent is so strong, that it reaches 

 for half a mile round, and more near at hand 

 is almost stifling. If the dogs continue to pursue, 

 it does all in its power to escape, by getting up 

 a tree, or by some such means ; but if driven to 

 an extremity, it then lets fly upon the hunters ; 



VOL. III. G 



