56 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



once seized their prey, which is a rabbit, or rat, or bird, 

 or some reptile, they never let go their hold. Few ani- 

 mals equal them in agility and address. As they have 

 such long, slender, flexible bodies, and creep stealthily 

 toward their prey on their short legs, they have been 

 sometimes called vermiform, worm-like, Carnivora. They 

 are nocturnal in their habits, spending the day concealed 

 in hollow trees, holes in walls, or in burrows, and glid- 

 ing forth at night after their prey. Some of the most 

 beautiful furs are obtained from this family, as the Sable 

 and the Ermine. Most of these animals have a strong 

 odor. Some of them are exceedingly offensive. 



88. The common Weasel, Fig. 38, exemplifies the gen- 



eral shape of the whole 

 tribe, of which it is the 

 smallest. This animal 

 is so effective in exterm- 

 inating rats and mice, 

 - that the farmer can weft 

 afford to let him steal 

 now and then an egg or 



a chicken, which it will never do so long as any rats or 



mice are to be found on the premises. 



89. The fur of the Sable is very valuable. Great num- 

 bers of this animal are taken by hunters in Siberia, and 

 are a considerable article of the Russian trade. The fur 

 of the Pine Marten comes next in value. Many other 

 furs are furnished by this family. The fur of the Ermine 

 was formerly used in England to line the robes of judges 

 and magistrates, and was, therefore, often referred to fig- 

 uratively as emblematical of the purity which should be- 

 long to such persons. 



90. The Skunk genus, of which there are several spe- 

 cies, found only hi America, belongs to this family. The 

 common Skunk is about the size of a cat. The offensive 

 fluid which it can throw upon any that attack it is con- 

 tained in two sacs near the tail. Like the Woodchuck, 



Fig. 38. Weasel. 



