THE COMMON WEASEL. 



and molefted by the fight of man, that it will even die if not permitted to 

 hide itfelf. 



In a ftate of nature, it fleeps during the day time in its hole, and, at the 

 approach of evening, is obferved peeping and Healing out of its retreat, and 

 creeping about the farm yards, in fearch of its prey. When it enters a 

 Hen-rooft, it inftantly attacks and kills the young ones, leaving the old Hens 

 and Cocks unhurt. It does not devour its prey on the fpot, but carries it off 

 to. its young, or its retreat, to be eaten at leifure. It is difficult to fecure 

 any place from its depredations, as it runs up the fides of walls with the 

 greateft facility; and the fmallnefs and flexibility of its body enable it to 

 pafs through almoft every crack and crevice. During the winter feafon, the 

 Weafel chiefly confines its nocturnal excurfions to barns and farm yards, 

 where it deftroys more Rats and Mice than even the Cat; purfuing them 

 into their holes, and always killing them after a fhort refiftance. It is very 

 deflruclive to young Pigeons, and, indeed, to all kinds of young birds; and 

 hunts with increafed boldnefs and avidity, when it has young ones to 

 provide for. In fummer, it ventures farther from home, and always follows 

 its favourite prey, the Rat, to its fummer recefTes; accordingly, it is found 

 with that animal in low grounds, by the fides of waters, and near mills. 



When the female is about to bring forth her young, fhe takes uncommon 

 pains for the accommodation and comfort of her little family, by lining the 

 hole with grafs, hay, leaves, and mofs; and generally brings forth from 

 three to five at a litter ; which, like thofe of the Dog kind, are born with 

 their eyelids unopened, but foon acquire their fight, and fuflicient flrength 

 to accompany and allift their dam in her nocturnal depredations. 



The Weafel has a ftrong, difagreeable fcent, which is the mofl ofFenfive 

 in fummer time, and particularly fo, when the animal is irritated or purfued. 



Notwithstanding what has been afTerted, reflecting the untameable 

 nature of this little animal, the Count de Buffbn relates, " that a lady fo far 

 familiarized a young Weafel, which was taken in her garden, that it foon 

 learned to lick the hand which fed it, and became as frolicfome and carefling 

 as a Squirrel." The fame author makes mention alfo of "a gentleman who 



