86 LECTURE III. 



ish-grey colour, with the hair freckled by innumer- 

 able minute dusky specks. The snout is long and 

 sharp, and the tail thick and full at the base, and 

 gradually tapering to the tip. Like many other 

 animals of this tribe it is a dangerous enemy to 

 many creatures larger than itself, over which it 

 gains an easy victory by fastening upon them, 

 and sucking their blood. It is a native both of 

 Asia and Africa, and varies in size in the different 

 regions. 



Some of the Weasel tribe are remarkable for 

 diffusing, when disturbed or hunted, a most intoler- 

 ably fetid small, so powerful as to taint the air to 

 an incredible distance. If the accounts given of 

 this odious vapor are not aggravated by those who 

 have experienced its effects, every other ill smell 

 which Nature is capable of producing is surpassed 

 by the overpowering fetor of these extraordinary 

 quadrupeds. In consequence of the dreadful ema- 

 nation, even the dogs are said to relinquish their 

 prey, and the men to fly with the utmost precipi- 

 tation from the tainted spot. One of the most re- 

 markable of these animals is the Mephitic IFeasel, 

 a North- American species, of the size of a small 

 cat, and of a deep chocolate-brown colour, with a 



