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THE ORISON. 
The Common Mink (. Putorius msori) also belongs to the list, as well as the Little Black 
Mink (P. nigrescens). 
The former is, perhaps, better known to onr people of the Northeastern States than any 
other. Its fnr was at one time very much in request for wear. It is one of the most beautiful 
of American furs. 
The latter species is the one that furnishes the darker fur, which is regarded as next to the 
Sable in beauty and worth. It is found in Massachusetts, and westward to Kansas. 
The lively little animal which is known by the name of the Tayea is an inhabitant of 
tropical America, where it is found in moderate numbers, though not in very great profusion. 
The color of the Tayra is a uniform black, slightly tinged with brown, with the exception 
of a large white patch which covers the throat and upper portion of the chest. It is said to 
take up its residence in burrows, which it scoops for itself in the ground. In captivity it is 
extremely lively and amusing, performing every movement in a sharp, quick manner, and 
accompanying its actions with an odd little chuckle, something like that of a hen calling to 
her chicks. The eye of the Tayra is small, bright, and brown in color. It is sometimes known 
by the title of the Great Weasel, under which name it has been described by Azara, who has, 
unfortunately, not left any account of its habits in a wild state. Its nature, manners, and 
customs are, however, said to resemble those of the following animal. 
The size of the Tayra is nearly equal to that of the common Marten. 
The Grison, or Huron, is a native of the Brazils, and is very common about the vicinity 
of Paraguay. 
In its natural disposition it is exceedingly fierce, and is a terrible foe to almost every 
animal that it chooses to attack. Even in a state of domestication the savage instinct cannot 
be eradicated, for even when the Orison is rendered sufficiently tame to suffer the touch of the 
human hand, and to return the caresses of those to whose presence it was accustomed, it has 
been known to break loose from its confinement, and to slaughter some unfortunate animal 
that happened to be within its reach. 
A Orison that belonged to Mr. Bell contrived to get out of a cage in which it had been 
placed, and to attack a young alligator that had been brought into the same chamber. The 
alligators were, as the above-mentioned author quaintly remarks, “ stupidly tame, and had, 
on a certain evening, been laid before a fire in order to enjoy the welcome heat. In the morn- 
ing, when their owner entered the room, he found that the Orison had made its escape, and 
had attacked one of the alligators with such savage fury that it had tom a considerable hole 
under one of the fore-legs, just where the large nerves and blood-vessels run, and had inflicted 
so terrible an injury that the poor creature died from the effects of its wound. The other 
alligator, although unhurt, was in a strongly excited state, snapping angrily at every one who 
approached it. 
Another Orison, that was domesticated by M. F. Cuvier, committed a similarly fatal 
assault on a rather valuable animal. Although it was always well supplied with food, it 
became so excited at the presence of a lemur, that it broke the bars of its cage, and inflicted 
a mortal injury on the poor animal which had so unexpectedly called forth the innate ferocity 
of its character. 
Yet this animal was remarkable for its docility and gentle playfulness, and was always 
ready for a game with any one who would spend a few minutes in the mock combats in which 
it delighted. The play of all wild-natnred animals is a mock fight, and is often rather prone 
to become a real battle, if their combative nature be too much excited. The Orison would, 
when challenged to play, turn on its back, seize the fingers of its human playfellow between 
its jaws, hold them to its mouth, and press them gently with its teeth. It never bit with 
sufficient force to cause pain, so that its ferocious onslaught on the lemur would not have 
been expected from an animal of so gentle a nature. It was possessed of a very retentive 
memory, and could recognize its friends by the touch of their fingers, without needing to see 
their owners. 
