WEASEL KIND. 115 



According to his account, they are not un- 

 common in this district, though more frequently 

 to be met with in the neighbouring date terri- 

 tories of Beni Mezab and Werglab, the residence 

 of the ancient Melano-Gaetuli. In the Werglab, 

 the animals are hunted for their skins, which are 

 sold at Mecca, and afterwards exported to India. 

 Mr Bruce kept this one for several months at his 

 country-house near Algiers, that he might learn 

 its manners. Its favourite food, he tells us, was 

 dates or other sweet fruit, yet it was also very 

 fond of eggs. It devoured those of pigeons and 

 small birds with great avidity when first brought 

 to him ; but did not seem to know how to manage 

 hen's eggs, though, when they were broken to him, 

 he ate the contents with as great avidity as the 

 others. When hungry, he would eat bread, espe- 

 cially with honey or sugar. His attention was 

 greatly engrossed by the sight of any bird flying 

 across the room where he was, or confined in a 

 cage near him, and could not be diverted from 

 viewing it by placing biscuit before him ; so that 

 it seems probable that he preys upon them in his 

 wild state. He was extremely impatient of hav- 

 ing his ears touched, so that it w r as with much 

 difficulty that they could be measured ; and, on 

 account of this impatience, it was found impos- 

 sible to count the protuberances or paps on his 

 belly. He seemed very much frightened at the 

 sight of a cat ; and endeavoured to hide himself, 

 though he did not appear to meditate any de- 

 fence. On this occasion also he lowered his ears, 

 which at other times he kept erect. Notwith- 



