ERMINE. 
rities by which such an opinion is supported. 
They are, in fact, distinguished as varieties of 
the Mustela Erminea, by Dr. GmeHn, in his 
edition of the SystemaNaturag : the Stoat being 
the Mustela Erminea ^Estiva ; and the Er- 
mine, the Mustela Erminea Hyberna. It is, 
liowever, very generally agreed, by naturalists, 
lhat the difFerence seems chiefly to depend on 
climate, and the season of the year ; the Stoat, } 
of a pale tawny brown or reddish yellow co-| 
lour in summer, becoming the white Ermine | 
of winter, in cold countries. 
The history and description of this animal, 
as given by BufFon, is as follows — 
The Weasel with a BlackTail," says he 
meaning with the end of the tail black — is] 
called the Ermine, and the Rosclet, by th 
French : the Ermine, when it is white ; and th 
Roselet, when it is red or yellowish. Thougl 
less frequent than the Common Weasel, thes 
animals are still found in considerable num 
hers: especially in the ancient forests; and 
sometimes., during winter, in fields borderinj 
on woods. It is easy, at all seasons, to distin- 
euisl"'^ 
