COMMON WEASEL* / 377 
a drop* When it is satisfied, it generally goes to 
sleep. My chamber is the place of its residence ; 
and I have found a method of dispelling its strong 
smell by perfumes. By day it sleeps in a quilt, 
into which it gets by an unsown place which it 
had discovered on the edge ; during the night, it is 
kept in a wired box or cage, which it always enters 
with reluctance, and leaves with pleasure. If it 
be set at liberty before my time of rising, after a 
thousand little plavful tricks, it gets into my Joed, 
and goes to sleep in my hand, or on my bosom. If 
I am up first, it spends a full half hour in caress- 
ing me ; playing with my fingers like a little dog, 
jumping on my head and on my neck, and running 
round on my arms and body with a lightness and 
elegance which I never found in any other animal* 
If I present my hands at the distance of three 
feet, it jumps into them without ever missing. It 
shews a great deal of address and cunning in order 
to compass its ends, and seems to disobey certain 
prohibitions, merely through caprice. During all 
its actions, it seems solicitous to divert, and to be 
noticed ; looking at every jump, and at everv turn, 
to see whether it is observed or not. If no notice 
be taken of its gambols, it ceases them immediately, 
and betakes itself to sleep ; and even when awaked 
from the soundest sleep, it instantly resumes its 
gaiety, and frolics about in as sprightly a manner 
as before. It never shews any ill-humour, unless 
when confined, or teased too much ; in which 
case, it expresses its displeasure by a sort of mur- 
mur, very different from that which it utters when 
pleased. 
<e In the midst of twenty people, this little ani- 
mal distinguishes my voice, seeks me out, and 
springs over every body to come at me. His play 
with me is the most lively and caressing ,* with his 
two little paws he pats me on the chin, with an air 
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