OF QJJADRUPEDS. 413 



nfually called, The Fou'mart, i. e. The Foul-mart, from its in- 

 tolerable fcent ; owing to a foetid matter, formed in two glands, 

 near the Amis. Its favourite food is fmall birds, and poultry, or 

 their eggs, when it can get at them, and when it cannot, is 

 content to make a meal of mice, and other fmall animals that 

 fall in its way, but commonly is too fuccefsful in its thievifh 

 adventures in farm-yards. It is lefs than the Marten, and its fur 

 of little value. 



The Ermine, or White Weafel (d} } is not unfrcquently fcen in 

 winter, in our alpine vales, near houfes, and farm-yards. It 

 feeds upon mice, and lives in luxury when it can meet with the 

 eggs of poultry. When it appears abroad, it is faid to prelage 

 fnow. On the authority and observation of the judicious Dr. 

 Richardfon, of Bierley, in TorkJ}jire^ it is affirmed to change its co- 

 lour from brown to white about the beginning of November^ and 

 from, white to brown in the beginning of March. I have feen it 

 before fnow-ftorms in the middle of winter. Its fur-cloathing 

 was then fnow-white, glofly, and beautiful ; for which it is 

 much valued. 



Befides thefe animals, there arc two others of an amphibeous 

 nature, living at pleafure on land, or in the water, the Otter, and 

 Sea-Calf, both in great abundance. 



The Otter (e) has its habitation under-ground, like the Beaver^ 

 which it fomewhat refembles, on the ihady banks of our larger 



(tl) Muftelj Candida f. Arvmal Ermineum recentiorum. Raj. quadr. p 198. Hermel- 

 lanus. Cbari;t. quadr. p. ?o. n. 2. Muftcla alpina Candida. Wagn. Hclv. p. 180. /?. Lir.n. 

 Faun. Suec, p. 3, 4. ERMIN. Charlet. 1. c. 



(e) Lutra. Cba'lt. quadr. p. 18. n. 8. R.;. quadr. p. 187. L"t^ 't' Itis ommbu's x<[\i&- 

 libus. Linn. Syft. Nat. 36. Faun. Suec. p. 4. n. 10. OITER, CbarletA.c. 



rivers, 



