330 THE COMMON WEESEL. 



It is very destructive to young birds, poultry, 

 Rabbets, and several other animals ; and it sucks 

 eggs with great avidity. In this latter operation, it 

 begins by making a small hole at one end, from 

 which it licks out the yolk, leaving the shell be- 

 hind ; whereas Rats, and some other animals, always 

 drag the egg out ofthe nest, and either make a large 

 hole in it or break it to pieces. By this circum-r 

 stance the attacks of the Wcesel may always be dis- 

 tinguished. — Its form is elegant, but, like some 

 others of this genus, it has an unpleasant smell. It 

 lives chiefly in cavities under the roots of trees, and 

 in the banks of rivulets ; from whence it sallies 

 out on the approach of evening, to commit its de- 

 vastations. 



M. deBuffon supposed the Weesel to beuntame- 

 able ; but Mademoiselle de Laistre, in a letter on 

 this subject, gives a very pleasing account of the 

 education and manners of a Weesel which she took 

 vmder her protection *. This she fed with fresh 

 meat and milk, the latter of which it was very fond 

 of. It frequently ate from her hand, and seemed 

 to be more delighted with this manner of feeding 

 than any other. '' If I pour (says this lady) some 

 milk into my hand, it will drink a good deal ; but 

 if I do not pay it this compliment, it will scarcely 

 take a drop. When it is satisfied, it generally 

 goes to sleep. My chamber is the place of its re- 



* In general, however, when in confinement, they arc in perpehiaj 

 ac^it.ition, appear much distu; bed by the sight of Man, and refuse to 

 eat in the presence of any person ; and usually, if they are not 

 allowed some place where they can hide themselves, they soon die. 



