THE COMMON WEESEL. 32^3 



** One singularity in this charming animal is his 

 curiosity ; it being impossible to open a drawer or 

 a box, or even to look at a paper, but he will ex- 

 amine it also. If he gets into any place where I am 

 afraid of permitting him to stay, I take a paper or 

 a book, and look attentively at it ; when he imme- 

 diately runs upon my hnivrl, and surveys with an in- 

 quisitive air whatever I happen to hold, I must 

 further observe, that he plays with a young Cat and 

 Dog, both of some size ; getting about their necks, 

 backs, and paws, without their doing him the least 

 injury." 



The method of taming these creatures is, ac- 

 cording to M. de Buffo n, to stroke them gently over 

 the back ; and to threaten, and even to beat them, 

 when they attempt to bite. Aldrovandus tells us, 

 that their teeth should be rubbed with garlic, which 

 will lake away all their inclination to bite ! 



The last mentioned author quotes from Strozza 

 the following part of an elegy on the death of a tame 

 Weesel. 



Nil poterat puero te gratius esse; nee illi 

 Morte tua quicquam tristius esse potest. 



Tu digitos molli tentabas improba morsu, 

 Porrecto liidens sen)lsupina pede ; 



Et mollem e labiis noras sorbere sallvam, 

 Kt quiddam exiguo murmure dulce queri. 



Loving and lov'd ! thy master's grief! 



Thou could'st th' uncounted hours beguile; 

 And, nibbling at his linger soft, 



Watch anxious for th' approving smile : 



