QUADRUPEDS. 45 
wild, living in the woods and mountains. In the northern 
parts of Europe they are very numerous. This little 
creature will destroy rats, mice, and moles, nor does it 
spare hens, chickens, eggs, &c. 
It was formerly supposed that the Weasel was un- 
tamable ; but Buffon, in a supplementary volume, corrects 
this error, and from a letter of a female correspondent, 
shows that it may be rendered as familiar as a cat or a 
lapdog. It frequently eat from his correspondent's hand, 
and seemed fonder of milk and fresh meat than of any 
other food. " If I present my hands," says this lady, 
"at the distance of three feet, it jumps into them without 
ever missing. It shows a great deal of address and cun- 
ning, in order to accomplish its ends, and seems to dis- 
obey certain prohibitions merely through caprice. During 
all its actions it seems solicitous to divert and be noticed, 
looking at every jump and at every turn to see whether 
it be observed or not. If no notice be taken of its gam- 
bols, it ceases them immediately, and betakes itself to 
sleep ; and when awaked from the soundest sleep, it in- 
stantly resumes its gaiety, and frolics about in as sprightly 
a manner as before. It never shows any ill humour, un- 
less when confined or too much teased, in which case it 
expresses its displeasure by a sort of murmur, very differ- 
ent from that which it utters when pleased." 
Weasels and ferrets are used by rat-catchers to drive 
the rats out of their holes. 
