1S6 
CARNIVORA. 
THE STOAT OR ERMINE. LE ROSELET, OU l’hERMINE, 
BUFF. 
Mustela Erminea. Gm. 
The stoat, or ermine, like the common weasel, is 
widely spread over theEarth, and is found in America, 
as well as in Europe and Asia. It is, in general, 
about ten inches long ; and the tail is half the length 
of the body. This animal exhibits, in a remarkable 
degree, a peculiarity, which is proper also to a few 
others : the whole upper part of the body is of a red 
brown colour, during summer, but this vanishes in 
winter, when the upper part becomes perfectly white, 
and the belly yellowish. The tip of the tail is at all 
times black. In the latter state it is called the er- 
mine ; when the fur is greatly esteemed, and in 
much request, particularly for ornamenting habili- 
ments of office and dignity. 
This extraordinary mutation of colour, however, 
is nearly confined to those individuals, that are met 
with in high latitudes, as in Norway and Siberia : 
but the stoat, which is very common in England, is 
seldom found white in this country, though in the 
winter it is occasionally seen here, and more fre- 
quently in Scotland, in a sort of intermediate condi- 
tion, appearing to be assuming the pure white dress, 
yet as if the force of the cause, whatever it is, were 
