. The Natural history of quadrupeds and cetaceous animals [microform] : from the works of the best authors, ancient and modern, embellished with numerous plates, accurately coloured from nature. Mammals; Mammifères. IRMINE. 365 iray at that time more properly be called the stoat. There arc few so unacquainted with quadrupeds as not to perceive this change of colour in the hair, which in some degree obtains in them all. The j horse^ tiic cow, and the goat, atl'maoifestly change colour in the beginning of summer, the old long hair falling off, and a shorter coat of hair appear^ ing in its room,
. The Natural history of quadrupeds and cetaceous animals [microform] : from the works of the best authors, ancient and modern, embellished with numerous plates, accurately coloured from nature. Mammals; Mammifères. IRMINE. 365 iray at that time more properly be called the stoat. There arc few so unacquainted with quadrupeds as not to perceive this change of colour in the hair, which in some degree obtains in them all. The j horse^ tiic cow, and the goat, atl'maoifestly change colour in the beginning of summer, the old long hair falling off, and a shorter coat of hair appear^ ing in its room, generally of a darker colour, and yet more glossy. What obtains in our temperate climate, is seen to prevail still more strongly in those regions where the winters are long and severe, and the summers short, and yet generally hot in an extreme degree. The animal has strength enough during that season to throw off a warm coat of fiir, which would but incommode it, and continues for two or three months in a state somewhat re- Kmbling the ordinary quadrupeds of the milder climates. At the approach of winter, however, Ithe cold increasing, the coat of hair seems to Ithicken in proportion ; from being coarse and hhort, it lengthens and grows finer, while multi- tudes of smaller hairs grow up between the longer, thicken the coat, and give it all that warmth and softness which are so much valued in the furs of |(he Northern animals. The ermine is remarkable for the softness, the Iclosencss, and the warmth of its fur. It is brown in summer, like the weasel, and changes colour Ibefore the winter is begun, becoming a beautiful cream colour, all except the tip of the tail, which still continues black. Mr. Daubenton had one of Ithesebrough him with its white winter fur, which jbe put into a cage and kept, in order to observa ||Iic manner of moulting its hair. He received it jin the beginning of March : in a very short time it began to shed its coat, and a mixture of brown l^vas seen to pr
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1810, booksubjectmammals, bookyear1811
