(^73) 



THE MEPHITIC WEASEL, or CHINCHE. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Six cutting teeth, two canine teeth, in each jaw. 



Sharp nofe : flender body. 



Five toes before : five behind. 



Pennant. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &c. 



Blackifh-brown Weafel with white back, and extremely villous tail. 



Le Chinche. 



Buff. 13. _/). 294. pL 2,9- 

 Skunk. 



Pennant. Hift. ^adr. p. 343. 



TH E animal here reprefented is a native of North America, where it re- 

 fides principally in woods, but fometimes, like the common polecat, 

 ftrays into houfes, and commits depredations amongft poultry. It alfo refembles 

 the polecat in fize, but its appearance is far more elegant ; and indeed it pof- 

 felTes no inconfiderable fhare of beauty ; its general colour being a very fine 

 blackifii-brown, varied on the back with one or more longitudinal bands of 

 white. The tail, which is very long and bufhy, is alio nearly white. Like 

 others of this genus, it preys on birds and the fmaller quadrupeds. It is 

 alfo fond of eggs, which it greedily devours. It is armed with fharp teeth. 



and its clav/s are of confiderable ftrength. 



The 



