310 THE WEESELS. 



the disposition of the most amiable Dog, beneath 

 the brillant fur of a Cat. 



'^ This animal (says M. Sonnini) was my prin- 

 cipal amusement for several years. How was the 

 expression of her attachment depicted upon her 

 countenance ! How many times have her tender 

 caresses made me forget my troubles, and consoled 

 me in my misfortunes ! My beautiful and interesting 

 companion, however, at length perished. After 

 several days of suffering, during which I never 

 forsook her, her eyes, constantly fixed on me, were 

 at length extinguished ; and her loss rent my heart 

 with sorrow ^." 



THE WEESELS. 



THE Weesel tribe was divided by Linnaeus into 

 two genera, Vlvera and MusieJa ; the latter of 

 which contained a!so the Otters. Mr. Pennant 

 and Dr. Shaw have^ however, with great propriety, 

 united these two ; and separated from them the 

 Otters, as possessing webbed feet, a character suf- 

 ficiently discriminating. To the latter, Dr. Shaw haa 

 appropriated the generic name oiLutra. 



The present genus therefore, as thus corrected, 

 contains animals which have six sharpish cutting- 

 teeth, with the canine-teeth somewhat longer ; ^ 



Sonnini, i. 292^ 



