302 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Description, &c. 



into the darkest forests, or the most desert moun- 

 tains, where none of the bolder or swifter am* 

 mals chuse to reside." 



God, in the nature of each being founds 

 Its proper bliss, and sets its proper bounds : 

 But as he fram'd a whole, the whole to bless, 

 On mutual wants built mutual happiness; 

 So, from the first, eternal order ran, 

 And creature lint'd to creature, man to man. 



TOPE. 



THE FERRET. 



THIS animal is known to us only in a domes- 

 tic state, but was, according to the best authori- 

 ties, originally a native of Africa, whence it was 

 imported into Spain, and from its known enmity 

 to rabbits, it was employed to free that country 

 from the multitudes of those animals with which 

 it was in a manner over-run. 



The body of the ferret is about twelve or four- 

 teen inches in length, the nose is sharper than 

 that of the common weasel : the ears are short 

 and round, and the eyes exceedingly red, and 

 full of fire : the body is very slender, and the legs 

 ore short. 



The common colour of these animals is a pule 

 yellow, with sometimes a shade of black at the 

 points of the hairs ; but they are also found of 

 various other colours, such as party-coloured, 

 brown, white., and black. 



