THE COMMON WEASEL 



160 



"His vivacity, agility, and voice, with the manner he utters it. have a strong similitude to 1li<> a 

 faculties in a squirrel. In the summer season he runs about all night, squeaking ; but since the cold 

 set in he has desisted from this practice, but has sometimes expressed this particular sound when 

 rolling on my bed in the sunbeams. 



" It seems extremely probable that the weasel sips the dew, judging from the remarkable m.-mne.i- 

 he drinks milk from my hand. He will never drink water when he can get milk, and then in sin-h .1 

 small way, that he appears only to do it to cool his tongue, for he evinced fear on several occasions 

 when water was presented to him. During the summer showers I caught some rain-water, and 

 endeavoured to get him to enter it to bathe himself, but this he would not do. I then dipped a piece 





1. THE BEECH MARTEN. 2. THE WEASEL. 



of linen cloth in it ; this seemed to afford him much pleasure, by rolling himself over it, which he did 

 frequently. 



" The curiosity of this little pet is unbounded, for it is impossible to open a drawer or box without 

 his roving through every part of them ; if even a piece of paper or a book is looked at, he will also 

 examine it with attention. Everything I take into my hand he must run up to, and survey with 

 an attentive scrutiny. I have a young dog and cat, with both of which he is veiy familiar ; he 

 will scamper over their necks, backs, and legs, without their offering him the smallest injury." 



Strozza felt so strong an attachment to a weasel, that at its death he composed a Latin elegy, 

 which may thus be translated : 



" Loving and loved ! thy master's grief 



Thou coulilst th' uncounted hours begu ; le: 

 And nibbling at his fingers soft, 



Watch anxious for th' approving smile. 

 Or stretching forth the playful foot, 



Around in wanton gambols rove ; 

 Or gently sip the rosy lip, 



And in light murmurs speak thy love." 



The following fact shows the existence of very different qualities : One fine summer evening 

 vol. ii. 22 



