POLECAT 



by us from a trap, much to the annoyance of the keeper, 

 who happened to put in an appearance just after the deed 

 was accomplished ! 



Six members of the Carnivora, included in this 

 volume, claim kinship with the family Mustelida, but 

 they are relegated to four different genera, thus : Martes 

 (Pine Marten), Mustela (Weasel, Stoat and Polecat), 

 Meles (Badger), and Lutia (Otter). To complete the 



Pol(2ca.r. 



classification, the Wild Cat belongs to the genus Felts 

 or Cat tribe, and the Fox to the genus Canis or Dog tribe. 

 The Polecat is attired in a rich fur coat of dark brown, 

 with tawny or yellowish under-parts, and a bushy tail. 

 There are some white markings near the ears and mouth. 

 It attains a total length of about twenty-four inches, 

 and a weight of about six pounds. Very often escaped 

 Ferrets are incorrectly chronicled as belonging to this 

 species, to which animal the former is, of course, closely 

 related. The depredations of a Ferret which is in- 

 sufficiently housed and makes good its escape are, at 



91 



