SABLE. Q5 



a dog : it is fond of being caressed, and frequently places 

 itself erect on its hind legs, regarding every thing that 

 passes with great attention. Its disposition is very 

 restless; and it is constantly fond of carrying its food 

 into the most retired place to devour it: all its habits are 

 very cleanly. It is exclusively carnivorous, and is very 

 destructive to poultry ; employing great artifice in sur- 

 prising the chickens : on this account it is rarely domes- 

 ticated by the natives : its sanguinary character, more- 

 over, sometimes shows itself in a manner which renders 

 it rather a dangerous animal; and it indulges, at intervals, 

 in fits of excessive violence. 



The size and general form are much like those of the 

 other ichneumons. The colour of the fur, throughout, 

 is chestnut brown, minutely dotted with yellowish white; 

 but the head and legs are more of a chestnut colour. The 

 tail is equal in length to the body. It is the Ichneu- 

 mon Javanicus of GeofFroy St. Hillaire ; which generic 

 name, however, as belonging to a tribe of insects, cannot 

 be retained in this division of animals. 



The Sable. 



IMustela Zibellina, Lhmcens. Sable Weasel, Shaw. Sobol, 

 Russians. Sabbol, Swedes, Griff. Cuv. 



The animal which furnishes the beautiful and costly 

 fur, known as sable, appears confined to the north of 

 Europe and Asia ; at least, it did not fall under the 

 observation of Dr. Richardson, during his long residence 

 in the fur countries of America. Like the pine marten 

 both in appearance and habits, it frequents only wooded 

 districts, and hunts during the night ; but it lives in 

 hollow trees, and not in subterraneous burrows. In a 

 wild state it devours the remnant of carcases left by 

 the bears and wolverines, but is also said to be fond of 

 the fruit of the wild service tree. If pressed by hunger, 

 it will attack and destroy hares, or other similar animals 

 larger than itself; and is said also to kill the ermine 

 and weasel. 



