460 EXPLANATORY INDEX. 



many of the polecat tribe ' as a defence,' she has cruelly 

 neglected our former invader, the Hanoverian rat. The pole- 

 cat is not much exposed to destruction, as its movements are 

 chiefly nocturnal, and, in general, it is apt to shun the haunts 

 of men. But our Hanoverian, having a most inordinate 

 appetite for the good things of this world, is ever on the stir, 

 in the very midst of its enemies, to satisfy the cravings of its 

 capacious stomach ; and it will cater for itself the four-and- 

 twenty hours throughout. Hence your housekeeper complains 

 that it will try its tooth on primest Stilton in broad daylight 

 and that it will have its whiskers in the creambowl, even 

 whilst the dairymaid is gone up stairs with butter for the 

 breakfast table. Still my darling Hanoverian has nothing 

 but an ordinary set of teeth wherewith to protect itself, 

 although exposed to ten times more danger than the foumart, 

 which last has a fetid gland given it by nature ' as a defence,' 

 — in addition, I may add, to vast muscular strength, and to 

 two full rows of sharp and well- assorted teeth. 



" This being the case, let us reject the Transatlantic theory 

 as a thing of emptiness ; and if we are called upon for an 

 opinion as to the real uses of the fetid gland in polecats, let 

 us frankly cjwn that we havait not in our power to give any- 

 thing satisfactory on the subject." 



Polecat {Galera harhara). — Called Tayra by natives. It 

 is an active, lively little creature, black, with a white patch 

 on the throat. Colonists are apt to call the opossum by the 

 name of polecat. See "Opossum." 



Potato, Sweet {Convolvulus batatas). 



PowiSE (Crax alector). — This fine bird is one of the Curas- 

 sows, of which there are several species. It seems to bear 

 our climate very well, and as it is easily tamed, and will 

 take its place in the poultry yard, attempts have been made 

 to acclimatize it like the turkey, the guinea-fowl, and the 

 peacock. As yet, however, the enterprise has met with small 

 success, which is the more to be regretted as the great size of 

 the bird, nearly equalling that of the turkey, and the delicacy 



