The ERMINE.
This little animal is pretty well known on account of the high eſtimation in which the ſkin is held. The fur of Ermine is an article of conſiderable commerce in the more northern countries; its delicate whiteneſs and cloſeneſs being ſurpaſſed by none.
The Ermine is about nine inches long, excluſive of the tail, which is between five and ſix inches more; the tale is black, and in the male part of the forehead is dark brown.
The animal called in England the Stoat is the ſame as in more northerly climates is called the Ermine. It is a curious phenomenon in Nature, that furs of animals in general, in thoſe countries which have a long and ſevere winter, at that ſeaſon change their colour; thus, in Siberia the Fox, &c. are white, and among others the Stoat or Ermine alſo undergoes the ſame change; from a ſkin of brown and dark yellow, thinly covered, is produced that thick ſett, pure white fur which is prized by all, and bought at a very high price by many nations. The proceſs or manner how Nature accompliſhes this metamorphoſis, is not ſo eaſily traced: we well know her maternal care does accompliſh it, as a means of protecting the life of her offspring by a ſameneſs of colour with the ſnow, which for months covers the ground where this little animal is placed to endure the rigours of ſevere froſt; and, although their eſcape is thus facilitated, the wily arts of man ſucceed in the deſtruction of thouſands, by means of traps of various kinds baited with fleſh. The hunters of Norway ſhoot them with blunt arrows.
In very ſevere ſeaſons the Stoat in England (and very frequently in the further parts of Scotland) is known to change white; but their ſkins are of little value, the ſeverity of our winters not being ſufficient to effect ſo complete a change in the colour and ſubſtance of the fur, in which its greateſt merit conſiſts.
An Ermine brought to England quite white in the month of May, loſt all its ſplendour in about thirty days (beginning at the head), which did never return; its food is rabbits, birds, mice, &c. is very quick of motion, and has a fœtid ſmell, as all of the Weaſel Tribe have.
