CARNIVORA. 
121 
fit opportunity offers for its predatory operations. 
Its work of destruction is also frequently more ex- 
tensive from its habit of sucking the blood, and 
leaving the carcass of its prey until it can find a 
convenient time for dragging it to its hiding-place. 
Even the finny race is not secure from the attack of 
the polecat ; and our fish-ponds are exposed to its de- 
predations as well as our poultry-yards, dairies, and 
beehives ; the hole of a polecat has been found to 
contain the mutilated remains of a number of eels. 
It either takes possession of a rabbit-hole, or pre - 
pares for itself a subterraneous retreat, which is in 
general found to be protected by the ramifications 
of the roots of a tree ; a practice apparently origi- 
nating in that degree of intellect and foresight, which 
the Creator has so remarkably bestowed upon all the 
races of animals, when necessary for their preserva- 
tion. Here, or in some secure hiding-place under a 
haystack, or in a barn, or outhouse, the female pro- 
duces her young, generally five or six in number at 
a time, which she accustoms, when very young, to 
suck blood and eggs. 
When disabled, irritated, or dying, the fetid smell 
from this animal is almost insupportable ; and the 
place ’where it is destroyed will not lose the scent 
for a considerable length of time. It is very tena- 
cious of life ; and a scuffle with a polecat should be 
conducted with caution. If not able to escape from 
a man, it will in desperation attack him ; and when 
no longer able to do either, will seem to show ma- 
levolence even in death, by emitting its offensive 
vapour. 
