THE STOAT. 365 



presented to him some rain-water in a dish, and endeavored to make him go into it, 

 but could not suceed. I then wetted a piece of linen cloth in it, and put it near him, 

 and he rolled upon it with extreme delight. 



One singularity in this charming animal is his curiosity. It is impossible to open 

 a drawer or a box, or even to look at a paper, but he will examine it also. If he get 

 into any place where I am afraid of permitting him to stay, I take a paper or a book, 

 and look attentively at it, on which he immediately runs upon my hand, and surveys 

 with an inquisitive air whatever I happen to hold. I must further observe, that he 

 plays with a young cat and dog, both of considerable size, getting about their necks, 

 backs, and paws, without their doing him the slightest injury." 



This amusing little creature was fed chiefly with small pieces of fresh meat, which it 

 preferred to receive from the hand of its mistress. 



This is not a solitary instance of a Weasel being effectually tamed, for M. Giely has 

 recorded his success in taming a Weasel, which he had trained so perfectly that it 

 would follow him wherever he went. Indeed, it seems but reasonable to suppose, that 

 as the ferret has been rendered subservient to man, and has been domesticated to a 

 considerable extent, the Weasel might be equally susceptible of the same influence, 

 and be employed for the same purposes. 



Indeed, it is very unlikely that a totally untameable animal should exist, for, as far 

 as has yet been known, the very creatures which gave the most unpromising indications 

 of ferocity or obstinacy have been the most remarkable for their docility under the 

 treatment of certain individuals. We should not be overpassing the bounds of credi- 

 bility were we to assert, that no creature in which is the breath of life is capable of 

 withstanding the potent influence which is given to mankind for that very purpose, 

 always provided that it be used with gentleness, firmness, and much patient love. 



The number of young which the Weasel generally produces at each birth is four or 

 five, and there are said to be usually two or even three litters in each year. The nest 

 is generally placed in the warm cover which is afforded by a hollow tree, in the crevices 

 that exist in rocky ground, or in burrows which are made in dry sandy soil. The nest 

 is composed of dry moss and leaves. 



The fur of the Weasel is sometimes powerfully influenced by the effects of the 

 severe cold, and has been known to become nearly white during a sharp and protracted 

 frost. It is worthy of notice that, in such cases, the tip of the tail does not partake 

 of the general change of tint, but retains its bright red hue, precisely as the tail of the 

 ermine retains its jetty blackness while the remainder of the fur is either white or 

 cream-colored. Mr. Bell remarks that he has seen a Weasel which had retained its 

 wintry whiteness in two spots on each side of the nose, although the remainder of the 

 fur had returned to its usual reddish hue during the summer months. This specimen 

 was captured in the extreme north of Scotland. While clad in the white garments of 

 winter, in which state it is frequently found in Siberia and Northern Europe, it is the 

 animal which was called Mustela nivalis, or snowy Weasel, by Linnaeus. Even in 

 England it is rather variable in tint, independently of the influence of climate ; some 

 individuals being less brightly tinged with red than others, while occasional specimens 

 are found in which the fur is of an exceedingly dark brown. 



To persons who have had but little experience in the habits of wild animals, it is 

 generally a matter of some surprise that the celebrated Ermine fur, which is in such 

 general favor, should be produced by one of those very animals which we are popularly 

 accustomed to rank among " vermin," and to exterminate in every possible way. Yet 

 so it is. The highly-prized ERMINE and the much-detested STOAT are, in fact, one and 

 the same animal, the difference in the color of their coats being solely caused by the 

 larger or smaller proportion of heat to which they have been subjected. 



In the summer time, the fur of the Stoat by which name the animal will be des- 

 ignated, whether it be wearing its winter or summer dress, is not unlike that of the 

 weasel, although the dark parts of the fur are not so ruddy, nor the light portions of 

 so pure a white, as in that animal. The toes and the edges of the ears are also white. 



