THE POLECAT. 



75 



tiring swiftness of foot, renders an escape from them almost 

 impossible. The smell of the fox is proverbially offensive, 

 and is supposed to proceed, as in many other quadrupeds 

 from certain glands, situated near the tail ; yet Linneus sup- 

 posed that it arose from the upper part of the tail, where an 

 ambrosial odour has been found ; and that a violaceous scent 

 proceeds from a spot on the tail. The smell of the fox in ge- 

 neral so exactly resembles that of the root of the " crown im- 

 perial" as not to be distinguished. 



The above quahties having been very early discovered, that 

 certain animals emit an odour which other animals inhale, 

 and which directs the pursuit of the former, the hunting of 

 the one animal with a multitude of others became, and is yet 

 continued as a manly sport, and a favourite exercise. But 

 there can be no pleasure where pain is inflicted on any living 

 thing ; and the sight of the pangs of expiring life can afford 

 no satisfaction to the eyes of sense and feehng. The fox is 

 strictly a carnivorous animal, and is injurious to the farmer 

 only in the case of destroying poultry : the destruction of 

 hares and rabbits does not concern him, unless he be allowed 

 a share in the use of them. A multitude of persons on horse- 

 back, galloping over a farm, leaving gates open, breaking 

 fences, and treading on sown grounds, inflict an injury equal 

 to the depredations of the fox ; and the sport that may be 

 afforded to the pursuers of the animal does not enter into 

 the calculations of the farmer. When foxes become too nu- 

 merous, they are best destroyed by baited gins, and a train 

 made by drawing raw flesh across the usual paths or haunts 

 to the gin, in order to allure him to the place of destruction. 

 He may be also shot by watching times and opportunities. 

 Hunting can only be considered as a relic of a barbarous age, 

 when the uncultivated state of man " ranked him among the 

 ferse naturse." 



2. The Polecat, or " Foumart," is the " Mustela" of 

 zoology, a genus of the class Mammalia ; order Sarcophaga, 

 or preying ; and family Digitigrada, or toe-treaders. The 

 generic character is :~six upper fore-teeth, erect, acute, dis- 



