ERMINE, 
yuish them from the Common Weasel ; for 
the end of then' tall is always of a deep black, 
and the borders of the ears and toes are white. 
We have little to add," says BufFon, *' to 
what we formerly remarked concerning the 
Weasel. We shall only observe, that it 
changes colour, as usual, in winter. I had 
one sent me, in the beginning of March 1757, 
which was then white. I kept it till April 
1758 ; when it would, probably, have become 
white, had it been at liberty : but it was con- 
fined in an iron cage, against the bars of which 
it perpetually rubbed ; and, as it had not been 
sufficiently exposed to the cold, it still pre- 
served it's summer coat. It remained as sa- 
vage as ever, and had lost nothing of it's bad 
smelL In every other circumstance, it was a 
healthy, vivacious animal : having lively eyes j 
a fine countenance ; and movements so rapid^ 
that it was impossible to follow them with the 
eye. It was alvv'ays fed with eggs and flesh 
but touched not meat till it had become putrid. 
It never inclined to eat honey; and, being de- 
prived of victuals for three days,, it. died, after 
having taken a small (quantity of honey, 
Thfi 
