POLECAT. 417 
and will visit the dairy in order to indulge in this 
article : it has been known to attack bee-hives in 
the winter season, and to feed on the honey. 
The spring is the season in Avhich it breeds; the 
female producing three or four at a birth^ which 
she is said to suckle but a short time, accustoming 
them early to suck the blood of the animals which 
she brings to them^ as well as eggs, &c. 
The Polecat has been known to breed with the 
Ferrety and it is said to be a practice with war- 
reners, who keep these animals, to procure a mixed 
breed from time to time, which are of a colour 
between the Ferret and the Polecat^ or of a dingy 
vellowisli-brown. 
The Polecat is a strong and active creature, 
and will spring with great vigour and celerity 
when preparing to attack its prey, or to escape from 
pursuit; at which time it arches its back consi- 
derably, in order to assist its effort. It is of a 
smell proverbially fetid, being furnished, like se- 
veral others of the Weesel tribe, with certain re- 
ceptacles which secrete a thickish fluid of a pecu- 
liarly strong and offensive odour. The fur, however, 
is beautiful, and the skin, when properly dressed, 
is numbered among the commercial furs, and 
used for tippets and other articles of dress. It is 
added by Aldrovandus, that the furriers endea- 
vour to obtain skins taken from such animals 
as have been killed during the winter, as being 
far less fetid than those killed in the spring and 
summer. 
