THE EDINBURGH 



JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



SEPTEMBER, 1839. 



BRITISH MAMMALIA THE WEASELS. 



The Mammiferous Animals which occur in Britain being, on account of 

 their habits, less subject to observation than Birds, and therefore more 

 neglected, it is our intention to present a short account of them in con- 

 nection. The number of ascertained species (not including the Cetacea) 

 at present amounts to fifty-two ; but it is probable that several remain to 

 be discovered of the smaller kinds, such as Mice, Shrews, and Bats. Of 

 these fifty-two species, fifteen are cheiropterous, eight insectivorous, thir- 

 teen carnivorous, fourteen belong to the order Rodentia, and two to the 

 Ruminantia. As the Carnivora seem to merit the same pre-eminence 

 which among Birds is accorded to the Raptores, we shall commence with 

 them. They may be primarily divided into such as are Digitigrade, or 

 walk on their toes ; Plantigrade, walking on the entire sole of the foot ; 

 and Pinnipede, or with feet adapted for swimming. The Digitigrada are 

 formed of five genera, of which the first is that composed of the Weasels. 



I. Mustela, Weasel Four grinders above, five below, on each side ; 



the body elongated; the feet short ; the toes not webbed, the ciaws acute; 

 the tongue rough, with sharp prominent papilla?. Of this genus three 

 species are found in Britain. 



1. M. Putorius, Polecat, Foumart, or Fitchet This species, which is 



about seventeen inches in length, is of a slender form, with the head of 

 moderate size, oblong, the muzzle rather rounded ; the ears short and 

 rounded ; the neck of moderate length, but nearly as thick as the body, 

 which is very long, and nearly of uniform girth throughout ; the feet short 

 and strong, as in the other species ; there are four toes on the fore-feet, 

 five on the hind. The hair is rather long, the pile rather coarse, smooth 

 and glossy, the under fur very soft and woolly ; the general colour dark 

 brown, the long hairs being brownish-black, the under fur yellowish, and 

 more apparent on the sides ; the lips and tips of the ears are white, and 

 there is a brownish-grey patch between the eye and the ear. 



The Polecat generally resides in woods and thickets, on the sides of 

 hills, forming a burrow in the soil, or finding a secure retreat among blocks 

 of stone, or in a crevice. When its settlement is in the neighbourhood 

 of a farm-house, it is apt to commit depredations among the poultry, not 

 only sucking eggs, but destroying chickens, and even grown-up fowls of 

 the different kinds reared. It is not always content with obtaining enough 

 of prey to satisfy its hunger, but frequently destroys all within its reach, 

 biting into the brain of its victims, and, it is said, sucking or lapping their 

 blood. Its great agility, cunning, and ferocious disposition, render it very 

 destructive to game of all kinds : it destroys the eggs, often surprises the 

 birds on their nests, seizes the young ones, catches Leverets, and hunts 

 down Rabbits, which, on being pursued by it, seldom betake themselves to 

 their holes, knowing by instinct that they have a better chance of escape in 

 the open air. It also appears to feed occasionally on reptiles and fishes. 

 The Ferret is supposed to be a domesticated variety of the Polecat, which 

 it certainly much resembles in form and size, and with which it breeds. 

 The Foumart produces five or six young ones in the beginning of summer. 

 It is generally distributed in Britain, but is now nearly extirpated in many 

 of the lower and more cultivated tracts. The fur, which is darker and of 

 finer quality in winter, is held in considerable estimation, but is scarcely 

 an object of traffic in our country, which is supplied from the north of 

 Europe. 



2. M. Erminea, Ermine or Stoat The Ermine is much smaller than 



the Polecat, its length being about fifteen inches, with the body much 

 elongated in proportion to its thickness ; its neck rather long, and almost 



8 



as thick as the body ; its head oblong, with a rather short muzzle ; the 

 ears rather large, broad, and rounded ; the tail about a third of the entire 

 length. The pile is shortish and soft, the under fur very soft and woolly. 

 In winter the colour is yellowish-white, in summer brownish-red, on the 

 upper parts ; but at all seasons the terminal half of the tail is black. It 

 appears that the change from brown to white at the beginning of winter 

 is not caused by the bleaching of the hairs, but by the substitution of 

 white for coloured hairs. This very beautiful and lively animal is similar 

 in character to the Polecat, to which it does not yield in agility, address, 

 or ferocity. It frequents stony places and thickets, usually forming a sub- 

 terranean retreat for itself, but sometimes taking possession of a Rabbit's 

 burrow. Its food consists of birds of various kinds, including Grouse and 

 Partridges, young Hares and Rabbits, Rats, Moles, Mice, and eggs. It 

 has been known also to commit depredations on domestic poultry. Its 

 motions are extremely elegant, and in activity it certainly is not surpassed 

 by any of our native animals, its bounds being of surprising extent; but 

 although capable of great speed, it seldom trusts itself in an open place, 

 its first object when pursued being to obtain the shelter of some bank or 

 thicket. This species, to which the name of Club-tailed Weasel is some- 

 times given, is not uncommon in most parts of Scotland, but in England 

 is seldom met with. Its fur, which is well known to be highly valued, 

 is not with us obtained for sale, but is imported from the northern parts 

 of the Continent. 



3. M. vulgaris, Common Weasel This species is much smaller than 



the Ermine, from which, moreover, it is readily distinguished by its hav- 

 ing the tail proportionally shorter, less bushy at the end, and without 

 black, it being of the same colour as the body, of which the upper parts 

 are brownish-red, the lower yellowish-white. It does not undergo a change 

 of colour, like the Ermine, which it otherwise, however, resembles in form 

 and disposition. It is generally distributed in England and Scotland, and 

 appears to be more common in the cultivated districts, it being one of 

 those small animals, which, finding more food in the vicinity of man, are 

 enabled by their instinct to secure themselves against his animosity. This 

 the Weasel can well do to a great extent, its extreme agility and slender 

 form procuring safety for it where a larger animal would have little chance 

 of escape. In barns and out-houses its presence is beneficial, for it de- 

 stroys Mice and even Rats, which it can pursue into their holes ; but it 

 sometimes sucks the eggs of poultry, devours chickens, and even, small 

 as it is, has been known to destroy full-grown poultry. Young Hares 

 and Rabbits, young birds and eggs, Field Mice and Voles, form its ordinary 

 food. None of our native animals appears to possess the courage of the 

 Weasel, which, when its nest is plundered, has been known to spring 

 upon the Dogs, and even to attack Men. It is said to produce five or six 

 young ones, two or three times in the year. 



The Vampire A great deal of curiosity was excited last week in St 



Katharine Docks, by the report of the arrival of a living Vampire. The 

 vessel was crowded during the day, until its removal to the Surrey Gar- 

 dens, to which establishment it was consigned. It is the Sumatran species, 

 and the first living specimen ever seen in England. It is of the most 

 horrible aspect, and well deserves the name of Vespertilio spectrum, given 

 to it by Linnaeus, remaining constantly suspended to the roof of his cage 

 by the immense hooks at the edges of his wings, his head hanging down- 

 wards, and his eyes glistening with the most vivid brightness. It was 

 mentioned by one of the persons on board, that during the whole voyage 

 the Vampire had never been seen at the bottom of the cage. — Times. 



