ORDER CARNASSIER. 297 



the neck, tail, and legs are black -brown. It has mostly a 

 white spot under the throat. 



The Fisher-Weasel (Mustela Pennanti) is decidedly- 

 distinct, and is so named by the fur-hunters of America. 

 It is considerably larger than the Common Weasel ; is of a 

 glossy silvery black colour, which is paler towards the fore 

 quarters, and slightly rufous about the nose ; the tail and 

 legs are velvet black ; the hair is silky, and the fur beautiful. 

 The head is small, the ears short, and the claws are very 

 much crooked. It inhabits the banks of rivers and lakes, 

 and pursues the fish, which are its principal prey, with ease 

 and effect. 



The Zona, (Mustela Sinuensis. Humboldt.) The Baron 

 Humboldt describes this species of American Marten as 

 having the body less vermi-formed than the race in general; 

 of a blackish gray colour, with the under parts and insides of 

 the ears white; the tail half the length of the body, and but 

 little covered with hair. 



The White-eared Weasel, (Mustela Leucotis. Temminck.) 

 In the museum of that celebrated naturalist, Mr. Temminck, 

 is preserved a Weasel, which he has named Leucotis, ap- 

 parently because of the whiteness of the ears. It is twenty 

 inches long. The fur is of a deep glossy sepia brown colour, 

 like the beaver, but the insides of the ears are white. 



It seems not improbable that this and the preceding may 

 be the same as the White-Cheeked Weasel of Pennant. 



The Mephitic Weasels. Most surprising accounts 

 have been given, by almost all writers on the animals 

 of America, of certain Weasels, found in various parts 

 of that continent, which are provided by nature with a 

 very singular but effectual mode of self-defence, in the 

 power they possess of emitting, at will, a most insupport- 

 able and disgusting stench, which seems equally noxious to 



