330 MAMMALIA. 



Boitard relates a curious fact about a peasant, who managed 

 to feed his family at the expense of his neighbour, by the united 

 agency of a Marten and a Dog, both of which, however, must 

 have been wonderfully trained to attain the desired result. The 

 said peasant was in the habit of prowling about the farms 

 adjacent, followed by his Dog and carrying his Marten in his 

 pocket. Whenever he noticed a Fowl distant from the home- 

 stead to which it belonged, he let loose the Marten, which 

 killed it instantaneously. Of course, the rogue went away at 

 once, assuming an innocent air, whilst the Dog was sent back 



Fig. 129.— Pnlecats [M. putoritcs, Linn.) 



for the [feloniously slain Bird. This plan was ultimately dis- 

 covered, and the ingenious villager was compelled to discontinue 

 profiting by the natural habits of his confederates. 



Among the Polecat section may be classed the Common Pole- 

 cat {Musfela putorius), the Vison or Minx {Mustela lidreola, Pall.), 

 the Ermine {Mustela erminca, Linn.), the Ferret [Mustela furo, 

 Linn.), and the Weasel [Mustela vulgaris, Linn.) 



The Common, or Fetid Polecat (Fig. 129), owes its latter name 

 to the disagreeable smell which it emits when irritated. This 

 odouj is absolutely insupportable, and alike hateful to all animals. 



