228 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



the legs are covered with ftiort hair, of a deep-yellow co- 

 lour ; on each foot there are four toes, and a fmall one 

 behind ; the claws are fmall and black ; the tail, which 

 is more than double the length of that of the Ferret, is 

 very thick at its origin, terminates in a point, and is co- 

 vered with long hair, fimilar to that on the body. 



The FOUMART, 



fo called from its ofFenfive fmell, as well as to diftin- 

 guilh it from the Martin, to which it bears a ftrong re- 

 femblance. It is likewife called the Polecat , or Fitchet 

 and is the Putois of M. Buffbn, and the Putorius of Ray. 



Its length is about feventeen inches, exclufive of the 

 tail, which is fix inches ; its eyes are fmall, very bril- 

 liant, and when the animal is irritated or afraid, fliine in 

 the dark with lingular luftre ; its ears are fhort, broad, 

 and tipt with white on their edges ; it is white about the 

 mouth ; the reft of the body is for the moll; part of a 

 deep-chocolate colour; the fides are covered with hairs 



