Practical Game-Preserving. 296 



the secretion of a substance of disgusting odour near the 

 tail and the power of emitting the stench at will, using 

 it as a means of offence and defence when it is attacked. 



The polecat, as far as its colour, &c., go, is not much 

 known, and a description of the stoat is often volunteered 

 to illustrate the larger and more destructive animal. Its 

 head is, comparatively speaking, broader than the stoat's, 

 the nose pointed, the ears are round, slightly haired, and 

 rather inconspicuous; the neck, in comparison with the 

 stoat's, is short. The tail is more inclined to be bushy 

 than is that of the stoat or the weasel, and while much of 

 the shape of that of the ferret, has more hair upon it. In 

 colour individually, polecats differ a good deal, for the 

 reason that there are two kinds of fur on this Mustela, 

 one being short and woolly, the other long and more hair- 

 like. The former is of a pale yellow colour, and the 

 latter a bright brown, darkening almost to a shining 

 black; the apparent shade of the animal's fur thus differs 

 according to the respective lengths of the particular hair 

 predominating; hence probably a good deal of the 

 confusion as to these two members of the weasel tribe. 



The polecat generally constructs its nest in a rabbit- 

 burrow, and, moreover, one in a light sandy soil. This 

 nest it makes not unlike the rabbit's, but noticeable for the 

 smoothness and great regularity with which the moss, dry 

 leaves, &c., are built together. Occasionally the polecat 

 will scoop out a burrow, or rather a hole, for itself, but it 

 prefers the former and less troublesome way. Sometimes, 

 again, the crevices of rocks of large size form a suitable 

 retreat, and in others a heap of large stones is the chosen 

 place. The young ones number generally four, five, or 

 six, seldom more, and are brought forth during May or 

 June a favourable time of year for their discovery, 

 capture, and subsequent destruction. 



