V. foina, or the martin, is of a black tawny colour, and about eighteen inches long. It is the most elegant of the weasel tribe, with a small head, elegant shape, and animated eyes, agile, and graceful in its movements, capable of being reared, when taken young, to great familiarity and sportiveness, yet ever addicted to abandon the full supplies of confinement for the pleasures of freedom, however al loyed these may be by occasional indi gence or destitution. It is an inhabitant of the woods, living upon small birds and other animals, and breeding in the holes of trees. It produces no disagreeable • effluvia, but is strongly perfumed. Its fur highly valued.
V. manes, or the pine martin, is dis tinguished from the former by its yellow -breast. It is not frequent in England, but in Germany, Sweden, and North America, it is easily met with, particularly in woods of pine trees. Its fur is preferred con siderably to that of the last. It confines itself to woods and fields, never entering •the habitations of man, and breeds often in the nest of the squirrel, the buzzard, and the wood-peckem p• V. zibellina, or the sable, is about the ' same size as the martin. Its general colour is a deep shining brown, and the hair is ashcoloured at the roots, and black at the tips. It is found in the Arctic regions, and its fur is a most valuable article of commerce, when of a particular extent and beauty, being sold for from twelve to fifteen pounds. This extraordinary price for the skin of so small an animal induces the robust and hardy natives of the north to hunt sables amidst the rigours of winter with unwearied assiduity and presever ance. These make their progress over regions covered with snow, and in the most intense severity of winter, marking the trees as they advance, that they may recognize their direction for return, and sometimes, after spreading a net before the entrance of one of the burrows of a sable, wailing often even two whole days for the animal's appearance, and some times of course waiting in vain. These men, during the extreme hunger which they sometimes experience, find some al lay to it by pressing on their stomachs, with tightened cords, thin pieces of board. The furs are most valued which are taken between November and February. The hunting in Siberia was formerly conducted by criminals banished to that country, and by soldiers sent to it for this particular business, and who were stationed there for several years, and both were obliged to furnish a certain number of skins. Sables are extremely active and lively by night, but spend the greater part of the day in sleep. They subsist on squirrels and small birds, which they pursue from one tree to another with the most elastic agility. Rats, pine tops, and fruits, are also eaten by them. They are stated also to be fond of fish, and to be capable both of diving and swimming. They live in holes in the banks of rivers, and under the roots of trees. See Mammalia, Plate XVI. fig. 5.
V. putorius, or the pole-cat, bears a very striking resemblance to the martin, is possessed of ' extreme nimbleness and activity, and climbs trees, and even creeps up Walls, with great rapidity. It devours the smaller animals without discrimina tion, and pigeons, poultry, and rabbits, experience from it most fatal havoc. Dur ing winter its necessities urge it to fre quent, if possible, not only the barn, but also the dairy. It is stated, on respecta ble authority, that in some instances pole cats have been observed to feed on fishes, particularly eels, which they have drag ged from rivulets at a distance to their habitation, repeating their labours many times in the course of a single night, and consequently accumulating a great num ber of these fishes for their subsistence. This animal has been known in winter to attack bee-hives, and devour the honey. It is extremely fierce, and will defend it self with astonishing spirit, even against dogs. It is distinguished for the most
disagreeable odour, which, ho•ever, is not retained in the skin long after the ani mal is killed, this being dressed with the fur on it, and being held in considerable estimation. The female produces, in sum mer, five or six young ones, which require the attentions of the parent only fora short time, and are trained to suck the blood of the animals procured by her for their support. Inhabits North America.
V. furor, or the ferret, resembles the pole-cat both in form and manners. It is a native of Africa, whence it is stated to have been imported into Spain for the destruction of the rabbits, which had multiplied in that country to the most in jurious excess. It was thence introduced into other European countries, but is ill adapted to endure the rigours ofa northern winter, being particularly susceptible of cold. It may be tamed, but appears little capable of gratitude or attachment, and has such a thirst for blood, that it has been known to grasp at the throats of infants in the cradle, and suck them till it has been completely gorged. It breeds twice a year, and will occasionally devour its young as soon as they are produced. In confinement it must be kept in a box provided with wool, or other warm mate rials, and may be fed with bread and milk. Its sleep is long and prolbund, and it awakes with a voracious appetite, which is most highly gratified by the blood of small and young animals. Its enmity to rats and rabbits is unspeakable, and when either are, though for the first time, pre sented to it, it seizes and bites them with the most phre nsied madness. When em ployed to expel the rabbit from its bur rows, it must be muzzled, as otherwise it will suck the blood of its victim, and in stantly fall into a profound sleep, from which it will awake only to the work of destruction, committing in the warren, where it was introduced only for its ser vices, the most dreadful waste and havoc. It is possessed of high irritability, and when particularly excited, is attended with an odour extremely offensive. See Manimalia, Plate XVI. fig. 4.
V. vulgaris, or the common weasel of England, is about nine inches long, includ ing the tail,is elegant in its appearance, and light in its movements, but unpleasant by the odour which accompanies it. It dwells under the roots of trees,and subsists on field mice, small birds, and even young rabbits. It is also particularly fond of eggs. It is often fatal to the hare itself, which ap pears to entertain for the weasel extreme terror, and to be overwhelmed at the sight of it into a complete incapacity for resistance. It is a more formidable ene my to rats and mice than even the cat it self, as it has greater facility for pursuing them to their retreats, and on this account it is much valued and encouraged by the farmer. Its bite is said to be almost cer tainly, though not always immediately, fa tal. Its teeth are extremely sharp, and generally first fixed on the head of its ene my, which often lingers in stupor, but scarcely ever regains soundness. It coin. mences its depredations in the evening, and when it has produced its young, ranges with extreme intrepidity and ra pacity. It is frequent near corn-mills, and wherever rats and mice are abundant, and always retires with its prey to its burrow, instead of devouring it on the spot where it was killed, preferring it in a state of putrefaction. During confine ment, it appears highly agitated and rest less, and has by many been supposed un tameable, but Madamoiselle de Laistre has given an interesting and full detail of the manners of one which she undertook to protect and instruct, and which repaid her assiduity by the most sportive vivaci ty, the most harmless conduct, and even the most grateful attachment. For the stoat, see Alammalia, Plate XVI, fig. 3. Vol. iv.