THE MAMMALS OF SHAKSPEARE. 245 
« Alas, poor Proteus! thou hast entertain’d 
A fox to be the shepherd of thy lambs.” 
Two Gentlemen of Verona. Act iv., Scene 4. 
Amongst the Mustelide, Shakspeare alludes to the sable, 
fitchew (polecat), ferret, weasel, otter, and badger or “-brock.” 
Tue Sasie, Martes zibellina. 
Hawlet, speaking ironically, though bitterly, of the short time 
that had elapsed since the death of his father, says— 
“So long? Nay, then, let the devil wear black, for I'll have a suit of 
sables.” 
Hamlet. Act iii.; Scene 2. 
Tue Poxecat, Putorius fotidus. 
Shakspeare mentions the “fitchew” or polecat sometimes as an 
epithet, but never to denote anything very nice or enviable. In 
Troilus and Cressida, Act v., Scene 1, Thersites, to show his 
detestation of Menelaus, exclaims :— ' 
“To be a dog, a mule, a cat, a fitchew, a toad, a lizard, an owl, a puttock, 
or a herring without a roe, I would not care; but to be Menelaus—I would 
conspire against destiny.” 
Tue Ferret, Putorws furo. 
The word “ferret” we find applied as a verb adjective, and 
adjective; it is probable that ferrets were introduced into the 
country before the poet’s day ; in fact, the second quotation given 
below tends to prove that the animal was well known to him :— 
“Boy. He says his name is Master Fer. 
Prsrot. Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him: discuss 
the same in French unto him. 
Boy. I do not know the French for fer, and ferret, and firk.” 
King Henry V. Act iv., Scene 4. 
“ Brutus. * * * And Cicero 
Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes, 
As I have seen him in the Capitol, 
Being cross’d in conference by some senators.” 
Julius Cesar. Act 1., Scene 2. 
