56 NATURAL HISTORY. 
once seized their prey, which is a rabbit, or rat, or bird, 
_ or some reptile, they never let go their hold. Few ani- 
mals equal them in agility and address. As they have 
such long, slender, flexible bodies, and creep stealthily 
toward their prey on their short legs, they have been 
sometimes called vermiform, worm-like, Carnivora. They 
are nocturnal in their habits, spending the day concealed 
in hollow trees, holes in walls, or in burrows, and glid- 
ing forth at night after their prey. Some of the most 
beautiful furs are obtained from this family, as the Sable 
and the Ermine. Most of these animals have a strong 
odor. Some of them are exceedingly offensive. 
88. The common Weasel, Fig. 38, exemplifies the gen- 
eral shape of the whole 
tribe, of which it is the 
smallest. This animal 
is So effective in exterm- 
inating rats and mice, 
ores that the farmer can well 
COE ag afford to let him steal 
Wg, 38 Weasel: now and then an egg or 
a chicken, which it will never do so long as any rats or 
mice are to be found on the premises. 
89. The fur of the Sable is very valuable. Great num- 
bers of this animal are taken by hunters in Siberia, and 
are a considerable article of the Russian trade. The fur 
of the Pine Marten comes next in value. Many other 
furs are furnished by this family. The fur of the Ermine 
was formerly used in England to line the robes of judges 
and magistrates, and was, therefore, often referred to fig- 
uratively as emblematical of the purity which should be- 
long to such persons. 
90. The Skunk genus, of which there are several spe- 
cies, found only in America, belongs to this family. The 
common Skunk is about the size of a cat. The offensive 
fluid which it can throw upon any that attack it is con- 
tained in two sacs near the tail. Like the Woodchuck, 
Mil 
