*^ The skin of this animal is very precious. 
The furs of the Ermine are finer, and fairer, 
than those of the White Rabbit ; but they 
^oon turn yellowish : and, indeed, the Ermines 
.of our climate have always a slight tincture of 
yellow, 
. " This animal is very frequent in the north ;| 
especially, in Russia, Norway, and Lapland:! 
where, as in every other place, they are red- 
dish in summer, and white in winter. They 
feed on small animals ; and, particularly, on 
a species of Rat which abounds in Norway 
and Lapland. The Ermines ai e rare in tem- 
perate climates, and are never found in w-arm. 
countries. The Cape animal, called the Er- 
mine by Koiben, and the flesh of wdiich, he 
remarks, is wholesome, and agreeable to the 
palate, has no affinity to the Ermine. ' The 
Weasels of Cayenne, described by M, Barrere; 
and the Grey Ermines of Tartary and of the 
northern parts of China, mentioned by some 
travellers; are, also, animals different from our 
Weasels and Ermines. 
In the Natural History of Norway, by 
i Pontoppidan," 
