THE COMMON WEASEL. 



the vicinity of putrid effluvia; for the Count de Burton tells us of a Weafel, 

 which was found, with three young ones, in the carcafe of a Wolf that was 

 become putrid, having been hung up by the hind legs, as a terror to others. 

 This horrid retreat the Weafel had pitched upon, as a proper place to retire 

 to, in order to bring forth her young ; Ihe had, accordingly, lined the cavity 

 with hay, grafs, and leaves, for that purpofe; and the young ones werejuft 

 brought forth, when the neft was difcovered by a peafant, palling that way. 



Although the fize of the Weafel is comparatively diminutive, it is, 

 neverthelefs, a very deftruftive and formidable enemy to animals a hundred 

 times its own fize. The Hare is terrified into a Hate of defencelefs 

 imbecility at the fight of this little creature, and refigns itfelf to its fate, 

 without making the leaft attempt either to refill or efcape, fending forth, 

 at the fame time, cries, which indicate the greater!: diftrefs: it is equally 

 deftrudive to Rabbits, poultry, and young birds, and greedily devours eggs, 

 wherever it can find them. Its bite is generally fatal; it makes its attack 

 near the head, and artfully fixes its Iharp teeth in a vital part, making a 

 wound fo fmall, as fcarcely to be perceived. We are told, that an Eagle 

 having feized a Weafel, mounted into the air with it; and was after 

 obferved to be in great diftrefs. Its little enemy had extricated itfelf fo far 

 as to be able to bite the Eagle feverely in the throat, which prefently 

 brought it to the ground, and afforded the Weafel an opportunity of making 

 its efcape. 



This little animal is very common and well known in moft parts of the 

 country; but it is held in very different, and even oppofite, degrees of 

 eftimation in different parts of it. In thofe places where Lambs are bred, 

 the Weafel is a moft formidable and noxious inmate, and its deftru&ion is 

 attempted by every poffible contrivance ; while, on the other hand, in thofe 

 places where much grain is produced and preferved, its friendly offices, in 

 leffening the number of thofe little animals which feed on corn, are 

 univerfally acknowledged. It is, perhaps, one of the moft untameable of 

 quadrupeds. When kept in a cage, it constantly refufes to eat in the 

 prefence of any one. It is in perpetual agitation, and fo much difturbed 



