THE STOAT. 



THIS animal, which is found in England, abounds in 

 Norway, Lapland, and other parts of the north. It is 

 a full third larger than the weasel. 



One fact in reference to it suggests the benevolence of 

 God, in adapting his creatures to their circumstances. 

 In hot countries many animals have but little hair on 

 their bodies, and some are almost entirely destitute of 

 it. Of this the elephant will occur as an example. 

 In very cold countries the fur, as well as the hair, is, on 

 the contrary, unusually thick, and even the feet of some 

 birds are covered with feathers, not only for the sake of 

 protection, but to enable them to run more readily on 

 the snow. 



For the stoat, however, another provision is made : 

 it undergoes in winter a remarkable change of colour. 

 The whole of the coloured parts of the far become of the 

 purest white, excepting the extremity of the tail, which 

 continues black, and the under parts retain a slight 



