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the blood of every animal before they regale on 
it's flefli. 
Under this genus Pennant enumerates the com- 
mon Weafel, the ftoat, the American fitchet, the 
fitchet, the Sarmauan Weafel, the Siberian Wea- 
fel, the ferret, the martin, the pine Weafel, the 
fable, the fiflier, the Madagafcar Weafel, the Pekan 
Weafel, the vifon, the white-cheeked Weafel, the 
grifon, the Guinea Weafel, the Guiana Weafel, 
the vv^oolly Weafel, the ichneumon, the four- 
toed Weafel, the yellow Weafel, the Mexican 
Weafel, the Brazilian Weafel, the ftifling Weafel, 
the ftriated Weafel, the fl^unk, the zorilla, the ra- 
tel, the blotched Weafel, the civet, the zibet, the 
genet, and the folTane. 
Several of thefe fpecies are defcribed under their 
refpeilive appellations ; and the manners and qua- 
lities of the reft may eafily be colleded from the 
fubfequent defcription of the common Weafel, and 
one or tv/o more fpecies, which properly ferves as 
a model for the reft. 
Weasel, Common; the Muftela Nivalis of 
Linnseus. This is the fmalleft of the numerous 
tribe to which it belongs ; the length of the head 
and body not exceeding fix or feven inches. The 
tail is about two inches and a half long, and ter- 
minates in a point. The length of this animal, 
ho^vever, appears very great, when compared with 
it's height, which does not exceed one inch and a 
half. The eyes are fmall and black ; and the 
ears are large, having their lower parts doubled 
in. The head, tail, legs, and feet, together with 
the upper part of the body, are of a very pale 
tawny brown colour ; the lower part of the body, 
from the chin to the tail, is white; but on each 
jaw there is a fpot of brown, beneath the corners 
of the mouth. It is fLirnifned with whiflcers ; and 
has thirty-two teeth, which are two more than any 
of the feline kind have, and. they ail feem well 
adapted for chewing and tearing. 
The Weafel, though a very diminutive animal, 
is aeverthelefs a formidable enemy to many greatly 
it's fuperiori; in fize. Like the reft of it's kind, it is 
very deftruftive to rabbits, poultry, and young 
birds ; and it is alfo a great devourer of eggs. It is 
held in different eftimation in diftinft parts of the 
■world. In fuch places where lambs are bred, it 
is a very dangerous neighbour; but where agri- 
culture conftitutes the principal employment of 
the natives, it is confidcred as a friendly. animal 
that deftroys much of the vermin which preys on 
corn. ■ ' 
The Weafel frequents hovels, barns, ftables, 
and granaries ; where, in order to compenfate for 
it's depredations among the poultry, it fpeedily 
clears it's haunts from rats and mice, being a 
greater: enemy to them than even the cat itfelf. 
This animal is.abfolutely untameable and un- 
traftable. When kept in a cage, either for amufe- 
ment or infpedlion, it will not touch it's food 
while any perfon continues within it's view. It 
appears continually agitated; and is fo terrified at 
the fight of mankind, that, if not permitted to 
hide itfelf from their eye, it will even expire. It's 
cage fhcfuld therefore be furnifhed with a fufRcient 
quantity of wool or hay, under which it may con- 
ceal itfelf, as well as whatever food it is poffefTed 
of. It pafiTcs three parts of the day in flcep; and 
employs the night in exercife and feeding. 
In a ftate of nature, this animal fteals from it's 
hole towards the evening, and prowls about farm- 
, yards in fearch of prey. If it enters any place 
Vol. II. 
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where poultry are kept, it never attacks the old 
cocks and hens, but aims immediately at the 
young ones. It does not devour it's prey on the: 
fpot; but, after killing it, conveys it to it's young 
or it's retreat. 
This creature is remarkably aftive ; and, in a 
confined fituation, hardly any animal can efcape 
from it. It runs up the fides of walls with fuch faci- 
lity and expedition, that few places are fecure from 
it's approaches; and it's body is fo very flender, 
that there is fcarcely a hole impervious to it. 
During the winter, it chiefly confines itfelf to 
barns and farm-yards: at this feafon it wars againft 
rats and mice; and, creeping alfo into pigeon- 
holes, deftroys the young. In fummer, it ven- 
tures farther abroad, and particularly into fuch 
places where rats have preceded it : it is chiefly 
found in low grounds, by the fides of waters, and 
near mills; and it's young are frequently lodged 
in the hollow of fome tree. 
The female makes an excellent bed for her lit- 
tle ones, of which ftic generally brings forth four 
or five at a time. Like the dog kind, all thefe 
animals produce their young blind ; but they foon 
acquire fufficient ftrength to accompany their 
dam in her excurfions, and become accomplices 
in her petty depredations. 
The Weafelj as well as all thofe of it's kindj 
has a very ftrong, ofFenfive fmell, proceeding 
from the fcctid glands beneath it's tail. Itfmells 
ftronger in fummer than in winter; and ftill more 
abominably when irritated, or purfued. It utters 
neither voice nor cry, except when hurt; and then 
it expreflTes it's pain by a difagreeable kind of 
fqueak. 
Weasel, GumEA; the Tayra, ou le Galera of 
Bufix)n. This fpecies is about the fize of a rab- 
bit; of a dufl<y colour; and it's form refembles 
that of a rat. The upper jaw is much longer than 
the lower; and the eyes are placed at about an 
equal diftance between it's ears and the tip of it's 
nofe. The ears refemble the human; and the 
tongue is remarkably rough. 
This creature is very common about the negro 
fettlements. It burrows like a rabbit; and is fo 
fierce, that it will fly at either man or beaft when 
provoked. 
Weasel, Stifling. This difagreeable animal 
has a fhort, fiender nofe; fhort ears and legs ; and 
a body covered with full black hair. The tail is 
long, and of a black and white colour. The 
length of the whole animal, from the nofe to the 
infertion of the tail, is about eighteen inches. Ic 
is a native of Mexico, and probably fome other 
parts of America. 
This creature, together with the Conepate of 
Buffbn, the fkunk, the zorilla, and fome others, 
are all remarkable for the peftiferous, ftinking, 
and fuffocating fumes, they emit from behind, 
when attacked or terrified. It is indeed their fole 
means of defence. Some turn their tails to their 
enemies, and emit a horrid effluvia; and others 
eliminate their urine to a very confiderable dif- 
tance. The terrible ftench immediately ftops the 
purfuers. If any of this liquid happens to enter 
the eyes, it almoft occafions blindnefs; and if ic 
chances to alight on the cloaths, the fmell Conti- 
nues for feveral days, and no waftiing can remove 
it: they muft even be buried in frelh earth, in or- 
der to be fweetened. 
Dogs which have been accuftomed to hunt this 
animal generally fucceed in deftroying it; but 
5 A others 
