THE WEASEL. 
295 
men. But our Hanoverian, having a most inordinate 
appetite for the good things of this world, is ever 
on the stir in the very midst of its enemies, to 
satisfy the cravings of its capacious stomach ; and 
it will cater for itself the four and twenty hours 
throughout. Hence, your housekeeper complains 
that it will try its tooth on primest Stilton in 
broad daylight ; and that it will have its whiskers 
in the cream-bowl, even whilst the dairy-maid is 
gone up stairs with butter for the breakfast-table. 
Still, my darling Hanoverian has nothing but an 
ordinary set of teeth wherewith to protect itself, 
although exposed to ten times more danger than 
the foumart, which last has a fetid gland given 
it by Nature '*as a defence " — in addition, I may add, 
to vast muscular strength, and to two full rows of 
sharp and well-assorted teeth. 
This being the case, let us reject the Transatlantic 
theory, as a thing of emptiness ; and if we are 
called upon for an opinion as to the real uses of 
the fetid gland in polecats, let us frankly own that 
we have it not in our power to give any thing 
satisfactory on the subject. 
No doubt this gland has its express uses in animal 
economy : so has the gland on the rump of most 
birds. Still, the uses of the latter remain a mystery. 
I sometimes think that fear is often an agent in 
causing the foumart to emit the stifling contents 
of its gland — as I am aware that fear has a wonderful 
effect on some animals. I have caused a puppy dog 
to make a mess of itself, by a mere authoritative 
clenching of my fist ; and I once saw a young 
u 4? ■ 
