THE COMMON WEASEL. 



become formidable, from their enterprifing activity; and their eagernefs after 

 plunder is only equalled by the cruelty with which they commit their 

 depredations. Unable, from their fize, to make much refiftance, they find 

 their chief protection in their minutenefs ; and, confcious as it were, of their 

 thieving difpolition, they Ihun the light of man, hiding themfelves in holes 

 in the day time ; from whence, at the approach of evening, they fally forth 

 to commit their devaftations. They are all cruel, voracious, and cowardly ; 

 and, being flow in purfuit, from the lhortnefs of their legs, depend on their 

 afliduity, patience, and cunning for their fupport. The flendernefs of their 

 body enables them to infinuate themfelves into very fmall holes, in fearch 

 of their prey; whence they have obtained the appellation of vermin, from 

 their limilitude to a worm in this particular. 



The Weafel is the fmalleft of this numerous family; its length being 

 only feven inches, from the end of the nofe to the infertion of the tail, which 

 is two inches and a half long, and adds confiderably to the apparent length 

 of the body: its colour is a reddifh brown, refembling cinnamon. This 

 colour extends all over the head, neck, back, fides, and legs; but it is white 

 under the throat and belly. There is a brown fpot on each jaw, beneath 

 the corners of the mouth. It has whilkers, like a Cat, and its mouth is 

 armed with thirty-two teeth, which are two more than to be found in any 

 of the Cat kind, and well adapted for tearing and chewing. The eyes are 

 black and fmall; the ears fhort, broad, and roundifh ; and have a fold at the 

 lower part, which gives them the appearance of being double. 



The Weafel, like all its congenera, does not walk or run, as other 

 quadrupeds do; but advances, by bounding or jumping; and, when it 

 afcends a tree, it gains a confiderable height by a fingle fpring. It feizes its 

 prey, by jumping on it in the fame manner, and, having great flexibilty of 

 body, eafily evades much ftronger animals, when they attempt to feize it. 

 The Weafel always preys in filence; and never utters any cry, except it is 

 ftruck, when it exprefles refentment and pain by a rough kind of fqueaking. 

 Its appetite, for animal food, is infatiable, and never forfakes it; and it 

 prefers eating it in a flate of putrefaction; nay, it feems even to delight in 



