HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 229 



of two colours; the ends being dark like the reft of the 

 body, and the middle of a full tawny colour. 



The fhape of the Foumart, like all others of this ge- 

 nus, is long and (lender, the nofe fharp-pointed, ami the 

 legs fhort; the toes are long, and the claws fharp. It is 

 in every refpeel: admirably formed for that peculiar mode 

 of life affigned to it by the all-wife Author of Nature. 



It is very a&ive and nimble, runs very faft, and will 

 creep up the fides of walls with great agility. In run- 

 ning, its belly feems to touch the ground ; in preparing- 

 to jump, it arches its back, and makes its fpring with 

 great force. 



It is very deftruclive to poultry, pigeons and young 

 game of all kinds. It makes great havock among rab- 

 bits ; and its third for blood is fo great, that it kills ma- 

 ny more than it can eat. One or two of them will al- 

 moft deftroy a whole warren. 



It is never feen abroad in the day time, unlefs forced 

 from its hole ; and is feldom hunted but in the winter, 

 being at that feafon eafily found by tracing its footfteps 



in the fnow. It generally refides in woods or thick 



brakes ; where it burrows under ground, forming a ihal- 

 low retreat about two yards in length, commonly ending 

 among the roots of trees. 



In the winter feafon, it frequents houfes, barns, &c. 



feeding on poultry, eggs, and fometimes milk. But it 



has another mode of procuring fubfiftence, which has 

 hitherto efcaped the obfervation of the naturalift ; and 

 which, though fingular, we can vouch for the truth of. 

 During a fevere ftorm, one of thefe animals was traced 

 in the fnow from the fide of a rivulet to its hole, at fome 

 diftance from it : As it was obferved to have made fre~ 



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