142] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



colour blackish tawny, muzzle and ears white, nose sharp. Its 

 fierceness is remarkable. We have known one, when confined and 

 unable to escape, attack a large greyhound : it has the faculty 

 of stinking most abominably when irritated, to annoy and drive 

 away its enemies. 



3. VULGARIS The Weazel : Upper part of the body and tail 

 tawny, throat and belly white, length nine inches. 



4. ERMINE A The Stoat or Ermine : A beautiful white variety, 

 with the tail tipped with black, is sometimes seen. These two last 

 are so fierce, that they will devour rats, young hares, or poultry. 

 A rat larger than themselves will fly instantly at their approach. 



URSUS MELES The Badger: Length two feet and a half, upper 

 part of the body grey, under black, tail short, with long stiff hair, 

 face black and white, fore claws long, a transverse orifice between 

 the tail and the anus, three black bristles over each eye. In Man- 

 stey and other woods. This harmless animal is sometimes subject- 

 ed to much cruelty in being baited by dogs for amusement. 



TALPA EUROPE A The Mole : Five toes on each foot, snout long, 

 eyes small, fur remarkably soft, no external ears, fore legs short, 

 with broad feet turned outwards: a cream-coloured varietyhas been 

 taken near Blymhill. These creatures are great destroyers of 

 earth worms, though injurious to the land and crops by their 

 hillocks. 



SOREX ARANEUS The Shrew Mouse; Nurserow: Snout and tail 

 long, above brown, beneath dirty white, toes five on each foot, eyes 

 small, length four inches. 



ERiNACEUsEuROP^ius TheHedgeHog; Urchin: Five toes on 

 each foot, long snout, body covered with long sharp bristles, length 

 11 inches. This animal is capable of folding itself up in its rough 

 prickly husk, as a retreat from danger, and appearing like a rough 

 senseless ball, and thoughtless boys sometimes torture it with dogs, 

 and otherwise, to. make it appear. The peasantry charge it with 

 sucking the teats of cattle. 



ORDER IV. GLIRES. 



LEPUS TIMIDUS The Hare : Ears tipped with black, mosi a- 

 bounding on light dry soils. 



2. CUNICULUS The Rabbit: Ears almost naked, pupil of the 

 eyes red. They abound on Cannock-chase, and Bishop's-wood, 

 near Breewood. 



Mus NORWEGICUS TAe Brown Rat : Length to the tail 9 inches, 



