222 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



tion, is afterwards corrected by a lady; who allures Kim 9 

 that (he had tried the experiment upon a young Weafel 

 taken in her garden ; which foon learned to recognize 

 and lick the hand from which it received its food, and 

 became as familiar, careffing, and frolicfome, as a dog or 

 a fquirrel. The fame author mentions another experi- 

 ment, made by a gentleman ; who trained a young Wea- 

 fel fo completely, that it followed him wherever he went. 

 — The method of taming th&m is to ftroke them gently 

 over the back ; and to threaten, and even to beat them, 

 when they bite. 



Thefe facls may ferve to mew the poflibility of render- 

 ing this animal domeftic ; and hold out a ufeful hint to 

 us, that its fervices might be very great in clearing {hips, 

 granaries, and other places, from the vermin with which 

 they are frequently infefted : For it is very well known, 

 that one of thefe animals will kill more rats and mice 

 than any Cat, being better able to purfue them into their 

 holes and lurking places. 



The odour of the Weafel is very ftrong, efpecially in 

 the fummer time, or when it is irritated or purfued ; it is 

 then intolerable, and may be fmelt at fome diftance. 



The following circumftance, related by Buffon, will 

 mew, that this animal has a natural attachment to every 

 thing that is corrupt. — A Weafel was taken in his neigh- 

 bourhood, with three young ones, out of the carcafe of a 

 Wolf, that had been hung on a tree by the hind feet. 

 The Wolf was almoft entirely putrefied ; and the Weafel 

 had made a neft of leaves and herbage for her young in 

 the thorax of the putrid carcafe. 



