366 
ermine; 
beccme of a reddish brown. Day after day this 
colour appeared to extend, at first along the neck 
and down the back, in the manner of a stripe of 
about half an inch broad. The fore part of the 
legs then assumed the same colour ; a part of the 
head, the thighs, and the tail, were the last that 
Changed ; but at the end of the month there wag 
no white remaining, except on those parts which 
are always white in this species, particularly the 
throat and the belly. However, he had not the 
pleasure of seeing this animal resume its former 
whiteness, although he kept it for above two years ; 
which, without doubt, was owing to its imprison- 
ed state ; this colour being perhaps partly owing 
to its stinted food, and partly to the rigour 
of the season. During its state of confinement, 
this little animal always continued very wild and 
untractable ; for ever in a state of violent agita- 
tion, except when asleep, which it often continued 
for three parts of the day. Except for its most 
disagreeable scent, it was an extremely pretty 
creature, its eyes sprightly, its physiognomy plea- 
sant, and its motions so swift that the eye could 
scarce attend them. It was fed with eggs and 
flesh, but it always let them putrefy before it 
touched either. As some of this kind are known 
to be fond of honey, it was tried to feed this ani- 
mal with such food for a while ; after having 
for three or four days deprived it of other food, 
it ate of this, and died shortly after ; a strong 
proof of its being a distinct species from the poler 
cat or ’marten, who feed upon honey, but otherwise 
pretty much resemble the ermine in their figpr<e 
and dispositions. 
In the North of Europe and Siberia their skins 
make a valuable article of commerce, and they 
are found there much more frequently than among 
us. In Siberia they bprrow in this fields, and 
