Archive image from page 99 of Cuvier's animal kingdom arranged. Cuvier's animal kingdom : arranged according to its organization cuviersanimalkin00cuvi Year: 1840 MAMMALIA. '':xi-fm-;- Fig. 27.—The Marten. There are very many species, three of which inhabit Britain :—Tlie Fitchet Weasel, or Polecat, of which the Ferret appears to be a domesticated variety ; the Stoat, or Ermine, which in cold countries (and occasionally even in South Britain) becomes pure white in winter, except the end of its tail, which always continues black ; and the Common Weasel, of diminutive size, which preys chie
Archive image from page 99 of Cuvier's animal kingdom arranged. Cuvier's animal kingdom : arranged according to its organization cuviersanimalkin00cuvi Year: 1840 MAMMALIA. '':xi-fm-;- Fig. 27.—The Marten. There are very many species, three of which inhabit Britain :—Tlie Fitchet Weasel, or Polecat, of which the Ferret appears to be a domesticated variety ; the Stoat, or Ermine, which in cold countries (and occasionally even in South Britain) becomes pure white in winter, except the end of its tail, which always continues black ; and the Common Weasel, of diminutive size, which preys chiefly on Mice and other small animals injurious to the agricul- tui-ist. It is a curious fact that in several instances the female Polecat has been known to stow away many Frogs and Toads in an apartment of its burrow, disabling each without kilhng it, by puncturing the skull. The Common Weasel traverses the boughs of trees, tops of palings, &c., with facility, and will spring from the ground upon a Partridge flying near the surface. Put. striatus, Cuv., a small Madagascar species, reddish-brown, with five longi- tudinal white stripes, composes the division Galictu of Isidore GeolTroy (not of Bell) ; and Put. Zorilla, Cuv., a species marked with broken stripes of white, and possessing a more snout-like muzzle, the tail of which also is longer and more bushy, is the Zorilla capensis of some recent authors : there would appear, indeed, to be several species of these Zorilles.] The Martens {Mustela, Cuv. [Martes, Ray] )— Differ from the true Weasels by having [commonly] an additional false molar above and below, and a small tubercle on the inner side of their car- nivorous tooth ; two characters which some- what diminish the ferocity of their nature. [They are handsome, and remarkably lithe active animals, with larger ears than the Weasels, and fine bushy tails ; are also more arboreal in their habits. The scent they diifuse when irritated is not disagree- able, f] There are t
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