188 
THE ERMINE. 
The ermine, or stoat, so nearly resemb^^^ 
the weasel, that some naturalists have coH' 
founded the two species : but it differs 
the weasel in size, being generally nine or te'^ 
inches long, while the weasel rarely excee^^ 
six or seven. In summer it is, like the weasel' 
of a lightish brown colour, but in winter b®' 
comes perfectly white, excepting the end 
the tail, which is black, and invariably retail^* 
that colour. 
This little -animal, which abounds in 
northernmost parts of Europe and Asia, 
celebrated for the softness, closeness, 
warmth of its beautifully white fur, which 
a valuable article of commerce. In Siberi*^ 
and Kamtschatka it is taken in traps bait^'^ 
with flesh. It preys, like the weasel, on 
