122 CAENIVORA. 



sucks the blood of its victim, but leaves its carcase. It 

 will capture eels when travelling over the wet grass at 

 night. It is often domesticated, and known as the 

 Polecat Ferret, catching Eats with great skill, and is 

 often preferred to the Ferret for this purpose, on account 

 of its superior size and strength. It is advisable to 

 keep it well secured, as otherwise it will commit ravages 

 in the poultry yard. We heard of a Polecat escaping, 

 and eating off part of a turkey-hen's head, when on 

 her nest. The turkey recovered, but was seriously 

 injured. 



The Fitch, to call it by its commercial name, is about 

 a foot long ; the tail, which is covered with long black 

 hair, is 5 to 8 inches long ; the general colour is a beau- 

 tiful shiny black ; the under fur is abundant, and varies 

 from light to deep yellow ; the hairs along the back are 

 very long ; the ears are short and white ; the head is 

 broad, and covered with short fur ; round the jaws the 

 colour is white or yellowish- white ; the nose and whiskers 

 are black ; the under part of the body is quite black, 

 and the hairs are very short. In aged animals there 

 are sometimes white hairs interspersed. 



The English Polecat is rather smaller than the con- 

 tinental variety. 



This animal is also found throughout a great part of 

 Europe. The largest and finest skins come from 

 Holstein. Bosnia and Germany produce a large number 

 of skins. Those, however, from the latter country are 

 not so valuable, the under fur being lighter. 



Polecats of good colour are also found in Holland, and 

 a few animals are still found in Switzerland. The fur 

 is good, serviceable, and of a rich appearance. It is 

 principally used in England for aldermen's and civic 

 robes. The skins from North Wales are fine. 



