WEASEL KIND. 113 



female are generally found together, both equally 

 resolute in defence of their young. Upon this 

 occasion, the boldest dogs are afraid to approach 

 them ; they fight obstinately, and bite most cruel- 

 ly. However, as they are unable to escape by 

 flight, the hunters come to the assistance of the 

 dogs, and easily overpower them. Their flesh, 

 it may readily be supposed, is not fit to be eaten ; 

 but the skins amply recompense the hunters for 

 their toil and danger. The fur has the most 

 beautiful lustre that can be imagined, and is pre- 

 ferred before all others, except that of the Sibe- 

 rian fox or the sable. Among other peculiari- 

 ties of this animal, Linnaeus informs us that it 

 is very difficult to be skinned ; but from what 

 cause, whether its abominable stench, or the 

 skin's tenacity to the flesh, he has not thought fit 

 to inform us.* 



[EL FENNEC. 



A BEAUTIFUL species of weasel, as it is univer- 

 sally considered by the Arabians, is described by 



[* A variety of this species in North America, called the Wolverene, is 

 found near Hudson's Bay, and in Canada, as far as the Straits of Michili- 

 rnakinac. This animal is distinguished from the glutton by its supefior 

 size, and colour. It has a black sharp-pointed visage ; short rounded ears, 

 almost hid in the hairs; the sides of a yellowish-brown, which passes in 

 form of a band quite over the hind part of the back, above the tail ; the 

 legs are very strong, thick, and short, of a deep black : the whole body is 

 covered with very long and thick hair, which varies in colour according to 

 the season ; but the fur of the glutton is much finer, blacker, and more 

 glossy than that of the wolverene. By modern naturalists they are classed 

 as varieties of the bear.] 



VOL. III. H 



