228 THE WEASEL. 



last in order to obtain its perfume. Now, as both these animals are 

 of the same family, I cannot help remarking, with Sterne, in the case 

 of " the poor negro girl," that nature has put one of this tribe sadly 

 over the head of the other, if the North American theory be sound. 

 Again, if nature has given this abominable stench to many of the 

 polecat tribe " as a defence," she has cruelly neglected our former 

 invader, the Hanoverian rat. The polecat is not much exposed to 

 destruction, as its movements are chiefly nocturnal, and, in general, 

 it is apt to shun the haunts of men. But our Hanoverian, having a 

 most inordinate appetite for the good things of this world, is ever on 

 the stir, in the very midst of its enemies, to satisfy the cravings of its 

 capacious stomach ; and it will cater for itself the four-and-twenty 

 hours throughout. Hence your housekeeper complains that it will 

 try its tooth on primest Stilton in broad daylight, and that it will 

 have its whiskers in the creambowl, even whilst the dairymaid is 

 gone up-stairs with butter for the breakfast-table. Still my darling 

 Hanoverian has nothing but an ordinary set of teeth wherewith to 

 protect itself, although exposed to ten times more danger than the 

 foumart, which last has a fetid gland given it by nature " as a de- 

 fence " in addition, I may add, to vast muscular strength, and to 

 two full rows of sharp and well-assorted teeth. This being the case, 

 let us reject the Transatlantic theory as a thing of emptiness ; and 

 if we are called upon for an opinion as to the real uses of the fetid 

 gland in polecats, let us frankly own that we have it not in our 

 power to give anything satisfactory on the subject. 



I am a friend to the weasel, and to its congener, the polecat, 

 although I know that they will commit depredations on game when- 

 ever an opportunity shall occur. Still, I consider that the havoc 

 which they make amongst mice and rats far overbalances their trans- 

 gressions against the game laws. About two years ago, the coach- 

 man brought me a fine polecat alive in a box-trap, which we occa- 

 sionally set to arrest stranger cats when in pursuit of forbidden food. 

 Feeling no inclination to take its life, I ordered the door of the trap 

 to be opened ; and as the prisoner went its way into the wide world 

 again, I saw, by the marks of astonishment which appeared upon the 

 man's countenance, that I had evidently done an evil deed. The 

 country gentleman, the farmer, and the gardener, are particularly 



