THE POLECAT AND THE MARTEN 



393 



the naturalist and a Polecat, in which 

 the former, Thomas Edward, was reckless 

 enough, or sportsman enough, to rely 

 solely on his hands, is of such a thrilling 

 and extraordinary character that doubts 

 have been cast on the truth of it. These 

 doubts are, to my mind, singularly un- 

 generous. Edward was sleeping under 

 cover, during one of his night expeditions, 



long one, though not so short propor- 

 tionately as a Weasel's. His head and 

 feet are more massive than those of the 

 Ferret, who is held to be a semi-domesti- 

 cated albino of the same species. When 

 enraged he is positively terrifying. The 

 hair stands stiff on his back, doubling his 

 size, his eyes start from their sockets, 

 and he flings himself at the bars of his 



POLECAT SLEEPING. 



with a dead moorhen in his breast pocket. 

 He was roused by the movements of a 

 Polecat which had evidently scented the 

 bird. Edward lay still until the Polecat 

 had gained sufficient confidence to crawl 

 over his body, and then seized him by 

 the throat with the idea of strangling 

 him. This was the commencement of a 

 struggle between man and beast which 

 lasted " nearly two hours," and which 

 only terminated when Edward succeeded 

 in uncorking a phial of chloroform which 

 he habitually carried with him. Excep- 

 tion has been taken to the length of this 

 encounter, but never, I think, by anyone 

 who has had experience of a Polecat's 

 strength and has seen a Polecat enraged. 

 The Polecat is a much more stoutly 

 built animal than the Stoat ; from nose- 

 tip to tail-end he often measures over 

 two feet, and his tail is bv no means a 



prison as though he would tear them to 

 fragments. All the time he screams 

 (a Marten's is the only scream I know 

 more hideous), and all the time he stinks. 



It must not be supposed, however, 

 that either Polecat or Stoat is normally 

 evil-smelling. Both have control over 

 their scent-glands, and only make use of 

 them under the influence of ungovern- 

 able excitement. The scent lingers for 

 a considerable time, and in the case of 

 captive specimens naturally clings to their 

 cages. I have found, however, that if 

 a transfer from a foul cage to a clean one 

 can be peaceably effected, there will be no 

 perceptible smell about the fresh quarters ; 

 and that, given proper facilities, either 

 Polecat or Stoat will keep himself as 

 clean and sweet as a cat. 



Despite the terrifying appearance which 

 a Polecat can present, he is, when at his 



