314 THE STEIATED WEESEL, 



j^trangled thein every one_, ate a little_, and^, as ap" 

 peaied, drank the blood of two *." 



In a wild state, the Ichneumon is said, to fre- 

 quent principally the buiiks of rivers ; and in times 

 of flood, to approach the higher grounds and in- 

 habited places in quest of prey. He is reported to 

 swim and dive occasionally^ in the manner of an 

 Otter; and to continue beneath the water for a great 

 length of time. His voice is very soft, somewhat 

 like a murmur ; but unless the animal is struck or 

 irritated, he never exerts it. When he sleeps, he 

 folds himself up like a ball; and is not easily awaked, 

 — The Ichneum.ons are short-lived, but grow very 

 rapidly. In our temperate climates, they cannot, 

 without great difficulty, be either reared or preserv- 

 ed. Whatever care be taken, the frosts incommode 

 them, and they generally fall victims to the change, 



THE STRIATED WEESEL'J*. 



This is one of three or four species of W^eesel^ 

 natives of America, whose only mode of defence 

 against their enemies (and it is a perfectly secure 

 one) is to em.it from their bodies a vapour so feti4 

 that few animals can bear to come within its influ- 

 ence. Cattle that are near are so alarmed, as to 

 Utter the m.ost dreadful bellowings. Dogs are 

 indeed sometim.cs trained to hunt them ; but, in 



* D'Ohsonville, 76. 

 t Synonyms. — Vivcrra Putoriuf. — Liiiu. — Skunk. Fiskatta. Pole- 

 fat. Kalm. C a Usl'j/^— Swiped Skunk. A'm-.— Coneparte. Bujhi, 

 Striated Weesel. Fain. 5-Wr'4 Cai. Zoo!. pi. 91» 



