THE EDINBURGH 



JOUENAL OF NATURAL HISTOEY, 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES, 



JANUARY, 1837. 



ZOOLOGY. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE — THE WEASELS. 



At.t. the animals of this tribe are carnivorous. Their slender, lengthened, aid cy- 

 lindrical bodies, short Ipj^s, anl the very free motion allowed in every direction by 

 the loose articulations of iheir s|-ine, well fit them for pursuing their prey into the 

 deepest recesses. Constituted by Nature to subsist on animals, many of which have 

 preat strength and courage, the Weasels possess an undnunted and ferocious di-^posi- 

 tion. In their predatory character they are inferior to the Cats ahme, to which they 

 bear a striking resemblance in many points of their organization. Their disposition 

 is very sanguinary, which frequently im-iels them to comnit the most extensive de- 

 Tastation, simply for the sake of gratifying their excessive thirst for blood. Hats 

 and Mice form a favo.ite article of their food, and they are very destructive to poultry. 

 All the animals of the Weasel kind are ndcturnal, usually remaining the greater part 

 of the dav in their retreats asleep, but on the approach of night, they begin to arouse 

 themselves, E.nd prowl about in search of the victims on which they prey. 



The Weasels belon;? to the genus Mnstela of Linnrcus. retained by Cuvicr, 

 but from which he ha^ discarded the Ichneumon, and other allied animals. He has 

 formed the reiniimler into three subgenera, und-r the titles of PutoritSy Martes^ 

 and MepliitUy the la-^t of which embraces the Mephitic Weasel of Suuth America. 

 and other fetid species. 



Fi" 1. The Pot.f.cat (Putnrius ynaximvs). — In the winter season the Polecat 

 or Foumart frequents houses, barn<:, &c. feeding on poultry, eggs, and sometimes 

 milk. It also eon-umes fish. Bewick relates that one of these, during a severe 

 storm was traced in the snow from the side of a rivalot to its hole at come dis- 

 tance from it. As it was observed to have made several tri 'S, and as other marks 

 were seen in the snow which could not easily b^ accounted for, it was thoii<rht a 

 matter worthy of some attention ; its hole was accordingly examined, the Puleeat 

 taken, and eleven fine Fels were discovered to be the fruits of its nocturnal excursions. 

 The Foumart is common all over Europe. 



Fio". 2 is a white variety of this animal, commonly called the Ferret, and which 

 many Naturalists have erroneously supposed to be a distinct species. 



Fi"-. 3. Harhwiuk's Weasfi. (P. Htirdwickn). — This animal is a nat've of the 

 mountains of Nepaul, India. It is of a rapacious disposition, living in forests, and 

 destro\in'T small hird^ and quadrupeds. This is a large species, measuring from the 

 point of the mu;^zie to the insertitm of the tail two feet two inches, the lenjrth i f the 

 tail being one foot seven Inchf^s anJ sis lines. Its native na.-ne is " Mult-St^mprah" 

 pronounced with a na^al sound. 



Fi"-. 4. Thk ' oMsios Weasel (P. vvlparis). — This animal seldom exceeds 

 nine inches in length from the nose to the tail, the latter being only about two 

 inches and a half in length. It is a hold and ac ive little creature, and makes no 

 scruple of attackin:: a Hare, which, if it once seizes, it is sure to overcome ani de- 

 stroy : it is more than a match for t e stron^jest Rat. 



Fi"-. 5. The Rk.minr (/'. ennineus). in its summer fur, and Fig. 6, in its full 

 winter drcr.s. The difference between the Ermine or Stoat and the Weasel is so 

 small, that they have frequen'ly been mistaken for each other when in their summer 

 fur. The Ermine is, however, considfrably larger than the Weasel, its length being 

 fuUv ten inches, and rhe tail five inches and a half. During winter this animal is 

 wholly of a yellowish white except the tail, which is invariably black at the point. It 

 inhabits Britain, Norway. Lapland, and Russia. 



Fig. 7. The Pink Makten (Marias p'mvs) inhabits the North of Europe. Asia, 

 wid Ameiica. and is also found in some of the more extensive woods of this country. 

 It is said that in its cmiba's with the Wili' Cnt, it frequently comes off victorious, 

 and instances are mnntitmed of its killing that animal. alihou:;h so much larger. 



Fi"'. 8. The WiiirE-ciiEEKEn .M.vrten (^M. Jiavigula). — This species is a na- 

 tive of India, an I is im^ of t'le argst of its Irih^ If is a bexutiful animal, but 

 partakes in a small degree of that unpleasant effluvium which is so strong in the 

 Polecat. 



Fig. 9. The WtMTE-n.\uE» rtlAiTES (M. leucoHs). — This animal is twenty 

 inches long, but little is Um^wo «f its iabits, and zojlo-jists are even unicquaiuted 

 with its native country. 



Fig. 10. The Sabt.e {M. ZibeU'ma). — This animal, so much in request on ao- 

 count of its valuable and fine fur, is a native of Siberia and Kamschatka. It lives 

 much in trees, and leaps with great activity from branch to branch in pursuit of 

 Squirrels and Birds. In winter it feeds upon berries. 



Fig. II. The Vison (M. i^ison). — America is the native abode of this animaJ; 

 it is only about fifteen inches in length, exclusive of the tail. 



DKSCKIPTION OF THE PLATE — THE FtXCHES AND BUNTIVGS. 



The Finches are a numerous and active race, widely dispersed over the world, feeding 

 principally on grain, seeds, and insects. Same of them are remarkable for the 

 melody and variety of their notes, while others are destitute of song, and only utter 

 a chirp. 



Fig. 1. The FiEi.n Sparhow (F. pnsiUa) is a native of Pennsylvania; it is a 

 migratory species, arriving in that State early in April. It has no song, but a nolo 

 not nidike the chirp of a cricket. It is the sm vilest of the American Finches. 



Vi^. 2. The Swamp Spaurow (T. pulmtris). — This is another summer visitant 

 of Pennsylvania, where it arrives early in April, and frequents the low pme swamps. 

 It rears from two to three broods in a season, returning to the south on the approach 

 of cnld wc-ither. It has no song, bu^ a simple chepp. 



Fig. 3. The Tree Sparrow (F. arborea). — This is a native of the northern 

 parts of America, taking up its winter re-idence in Pennsylvania, and most of the 

 northern states, whore it arrive* in the beginning of November, and departs in 

 April. It frequents sheltered hollows, thickets, and hedge-rows. It has a lovr 

 warbling note. 



Fig. 4. The Pong Sparrow (F. mplo'Ha'^ — This species is very generally dif- 

 fused over the United States, an I is only partially migratory. It comm-^ncea its 

 song early in the spring, and continues its sweet warblings during the whole summer, 

 and is sometimes even heard in the depth of winter. It frequents the borders of 

 rivers, mea lows, and swamp=>. Its n-'st is built on the ground. 



V\». .5. The Chipping Sparrow (P. socialis) This is a social American spo- 



cie-J, inhabitin:r the city in comm >n with Man in the summer se.ison ; but retires to 

 the fi -Ids anil hedges as the cull approaches, and takes its final departure for the 

 STjth of America when the frost sets in. 



Fitr. 6. Hensi.ow's Bunting (Ernhrriza Hen&lovi'i). — This new species was 

 first discovered by .Audubon, opposite Cincinnati, in the United States. Nothing 

 is known of its hi-tory or habits. 



Figs. 7 and 8. The Lvpi.and Lovg-Spurred Bunting {E. Lapponica) ^ maXo 

 and female, inhabit the de-^ola^e arctic regions of Ejrops and America. They 

 are common Bir Is in Lapland, and have been known to penetrate as far as some of 

 the mi Idl* States of America. The Lapland Longspur only sin 3;3 during its aerial 

 flights, at which time it utters a few agreeable and melodious notes. 



Os THE Habits of the Rivgdove (Cohimba Palamh-'ts). — Sir — It is slated in 

 r)r Fleming's History of British .\nimals, page 47, genui Cohiniha. thit the Co~ 

 luniha Pnhnnhtm, or Rin^jdove of our woods, is easily tamed, but wdl not breed in 

 confinenr.ent. IHr .T^hn R h^rt^on, of Rosehall Tea Gardens. Glasiiow, has in his 

 aviary a pair of these beautiful Birds. A woo len bos was pat up in a corner of the 

 aviary la-;t sprinfj, with the int.^ntlon of giving these Birds an opportunity to breed. 

 Thp box. how'ver, was mt securely fixiel, and fell from its position in a short time 

 aftei, containin:( a nest and one e ^g, which wa? broken to pieces by the fal'. Tha 

 boi asain being secured, the Cui^bats again bu'lt, and, pursuing the work of incuba- 

 tion, were succe-^sful in hrin 'ing ou"" and rearing a pair of finj healthy yoai^ ones, 

 and are to be seen rn JVIr Ribertson's possession at this timj. By inse ting tha 

 above fact in your useful Jodrnal, you wil oblige, &c. (Signed) John Blvthe, 



.10, East CTv 'e Street, 

 Glasgow, 28rh Nov. 1838. 



Th« above int^rpstinir fa-^t stv?s to cormct a mistak? into which most nitur;\Iis(s 

 have fallen, in supposin'j that th-^ Ringl.ive will not hraed in captivity. Tiiis Bird 

 is the largest of the European Columbida;, and may form a valuable addition to our 



Tj the Editor. 



