Guea. PLITET COBY EMT 
Polecat *, which has much the appearance of being 
a fpurious offfpring. But to put the matter out of 
difpute, the following faét need only be related : 
The Rev. Mr. Lewis, Vicar of Llanfowel in Caer- 
marthenfbire, had a tame female ferret, which was 
permitted to go about the houfe: at length it ab- 
fented itfelf for feveral days; and on its return prov- 
ed with young : it produced nine, of a deep brown 
color, more refembling the fitchet than the ferret. 
What makes the matter more certain is, that Mr. 
Lewis had no male of this fpecies for it to couple 
with; neither was there any within three miles, and 
thofe clofely confined. . 
The ferret agrees with the fitchet in many re- 
fpects, particularly in its thirft after the blood of 
rabbets. It may be added, that the ferret comes 
originally from Africa +; and is only cultivated in 
Great Britain. 
Though the fmell of the fitchet, when alive, is 
rank and difagreeable, even to a proverb; yet the 
fkin is dreft with the hair on, and ufed as other 
furs for tippets, €c. and is alfo fent abroad to 
line cloaths, 
* La Furet Putois, Tom. vii. Tab. 25 
+ Kai yaras aypias ds in rvCin Gece, Strabo, Lib. iii. p. va, 
Edit. Cafauben. 
Martes, 
gt 
