making; so much noise as the weasel, it does a great 
deal more mischief ; it dispatches with a single 
wound in the head ; and, after killing a great 
number, and satiating itself with their blood, it 
then begins to think of carrying them home* 
This it carefully performs, going and returning, 
and bringing them one by one to its hole ; but if 
it should happen that the opening by which it got 
into the dove-house be not large enough for the 
body of the pigeon to get through, this mischiev- 
ous creature contents itself with carrying away the 
heads, and makes a most delicious feast on the 
brains. 
It is not less fond of honey ; attacking the hives 
in winter, and forcing the bees away. It does not 
remove far from houses in winter, as its prey 
is not so easily found in the woods during that 
season. The female brings forth her young in 
summer, to the number of five or six at a time ; 
these she soon trains to her own rapacious habits, 
supplying the want of milk, which no carnivorous 
quadruped has in plenty, with the blood of such 
animals as she happens to seize. 
The fur of this animal is considered as soft and 
warm ; yet it is in less estimation than some of a 
much inferior kind, from its offensive smell, which 
can never be wholly removed or suppressed. The 
polecat seems to he an inhabitant of the temperate 
climates, scarce any being found towards the 
North, and but very few in the warmer latitudes. 
The species appear to be confined in Europe, from 
Poland to Italy. It is certain that these animals 
are afraid of the cold, as they are often seen to 
come into houses in winter, and as their tracks 
arc never found in the snow near their retreats. It 
is probable also, that they are afraid of heat, as 
they are but thinly scattered in the Southern cli- 
states. 
