312 THE TRAVELLER AND THE POLE-CAT. 



We started by break of day, taking with us the frozen cloak, and 

 after passing a pleasant night in my own house, we parted. Some years 

 after, I met my Kentucky companion in a far distant land, when he 

 assured me, that whenever the sun shone on his cloak, or it was brought 

 near a fire, the scent of the Pole-cat became so perceptible, that he at last 

 gave it to a poor monk in Italy. 



The animal commonly known in America by the name of Pole-cat is 

 about a foot and a half in length, with a large bushy tail, nearly as long 

 as the body. The colour is generally brownish-black, with a large white 

 patch on the back of the head ; but there are many varieties of colour- 

 ing, in some of which the broad white bands of the back are very con- 

 spicuous. The Pole-cat burrows, or forms a subterranean habitation 

 among the roots of trees, or in rocky places. It feeds on birds, young 

 hares, rats, mice, and other animals, and commits great depredations on 

 poultry. The most remarkable peculiarity of this animal is the power, 

 alluded to above, of squirting for its defence a most nauseously scented 

 fluid contained in a receptacle situated under the tail, which it can do to 

 the distance of several yards. It does not, however, for this purpose, 

 sprinkle its tail with the fluid, as some allege, unless when extremely ha- 

 rassed by its enemies. The Pole-cat is frequently domesticated. The 

 removal of the glands prevents the secretion of the nauseous fluid, and 

 when thus improved, the animal becomes a great favourite, and performs 

 the offices of the common cat with great dexterity. 



