^88 STRIATED WEESEL. 
tudinal white stripes on the back : the tail veiy 
bushy or full of hair. In the different specimens 
of this animal there is some slight variation ob- 
servable in the proportion of the dorsal stripes, 
as well as in the colour of the tail, which is some- 
times marked with a pair of lateral white bands, 
and sometimes almost entirely white. It its man- 
ners and horrible vapour, when irritated, it per- 
fectly agrees with the preceding^ as well as with 
the two succeeding species; and the same de- 
scription of this offensive quality may be applied 
to all the four. If the accounts given of this 
odious vapour are not aggravated by the abhor- 
rent recollection of those who have experienced 
its effects, every other ill smell which nature can 
produce, is surpassed by the overpowering foetor of 
these extraordinary quadrupeds. In consequence 
of the dreadful emanation the dogs are said to re- 
linquish their pursuit, and the men to fly with 
precipitation from the tainted spot: but if unfor- 
tunately the least particle of the fluid which the 
animal commonly discharges at this juncture, 
should happen to light on the clothes of the 
hunter, he becomes a general nuisance wherever 
he appears, and is obliged to divest himself of his 
dress, and practise all the arts of ablution, in or- 
der to be restored to the society of mankind. 
To add to the history of these strange circum- 
stances, it is affirmed that the animal is sometimes 
tamed, and rendered domestic; in which state 
it is pretended that it never emits its pestilential 
vapour unless greatly displeased or irritated: if 
