, in paralytic, cachectic, and serous disorders. It is applied also as an external stimulant, to benumbed and paralytic limbs; to parts affected with fixed rheumatic pains; and to the soles of the feet, in the low stage of acute diseases, for raising the pulse; in this intention, a mixture of equal parts of the powdered seeds and crumbs of bread, with the addition sometimes of a little bruised garlic, are made into a cataplasm with a sufficient quantity of vinegar. See Sinapis.

Muskard-feed yields upon expression, a considerable quantity of oil, which is by some recommended externally against rheumatism and palsies, though it has nothing of that quality by which the seeds themselves prove useful in those disorders; the oil being mild and insipid as that of olives, and the pungency of the seed remaining entire in the cake left after expression; nor is any considerable part of the pungent matter extracted by rectified spirit. The bruised seeds give out readily to water nearly the whole of their active matter: added to boiling milk they curdle it, and communicate their pungency to the whey. The powder of muskard-feed may be made into the consistence of a loch with warm water, in which a little sea-salt has been dissolved. Of this a common spoonful, sometimes two, diluted with tepid water, are given on an empty stomach; it operates as well as an emetic, and proves an excellent remedy in most nervous disorders, according to Dr Monro, in Med. Eff. Edinb. vol. ii. art. 19. p. 304. note.the Otter and Weasel; a genus of quadrupeds of the order of ferae. There are six cutting teeth in each jaw; those of the upper jaw, erect, sharp-pointed, and distinct; of the lower jaw, blunter, huddled together, and two placed within the line of the rest; The tongue is smooth.

1. The lutris, or sea-otter, having hairy feet and a hairy tail. The length from nose to tail is about three feet long, and the tail is about 13 inches; the body and the limbs are black, except the fore-part of the head, which is white or grey; the largest individual weighs from 70 to 80 pounds; the fur is very thick, long, black, and glossy, sometimes varying to silvery, with a soft down beneath. The sea-otter inhabits the coasts of North-west America and Eastern Asia, and the intermediate islands. It lives mostly in the sea, and swims with great facility; frequenting shallows which abound in sea-weeds, and feeding on lobsters, fish, Sepia or cuttle-fish, and shell-fish. It is a harmless animal; very affectionate to its young, inasmuch that it will pine to death at the loss of them, and die on the very spot where they have been taken from it.

Before the young can swim, the dams carry them in Mustella, their paws, lying in the water on their backs; they swim often on their back, their sides, and even in a perpendicular posture; are very sportive; embrace, and kiss each other; they breed but once a-year, and have but one young at a time; suckle it for a year, and bring it on shore. They are dull-fighted, but quick-scented; and run very swiftly on land. They are hunted for their skins, which are of great value; being sold to the Chinese for 70 or 80 rubles a-piece; each skin weighs 3½ lib. The young are reckoned very delicate meat, scarce to be distinguished from a sucking lamb. The cry of this creature is nearly similar to a young dog; and it is sometimes interrupted by another cry similar to that of the saki or fox-tailed monkey. It may be nourished with the flour of manioc diluted in water.

2. The lutra, or common otter, has naked feet, and the tail is about half the length of the body. It is in general about two feet long, from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. The fur is of a deep brown colour, with two small white spots on each side of the nose, and one beneath the chin. This animal inhabits Europe, North America, and Asia as far south as Persia. It frequents fresh-water rivers, lakes, and fish-ponds; and preys on fish, frogs, and fresh-water crustaceous animals, being exceedingly destructive to fish-ponds. The otter procreates in February, and the female brings forth three or four young ones in May; the male calls the female by a soft murmuring noise. The otter shows great sagacity in forming its habitation: it burrows under ground on the banks of some river or lake: it always makes the entrance of its hole under water; working upwards to the surface of the earth, and forming, before it reaches the top, several holes or lodges, that, in case of high floods, it may have a retreat: for no animal affects lying drier at top: it makes a minute orifice for the admission of air. It is further observed, that this animal, the more effectually to conceal its retreat, contrives to make even this little air-hole in the middle of some thick bush. Our author also informs us, that the otter is capable of being tamed; that he will follow his master like a dog, and even fish for him, and return with his prey. Though the otter does not cast his hair, his skin is browner, and falls dearer in winter than in summer; and makes a very fine fur. His flesh has a disagreeable fishy taste. His retreats exhale a noxious odour from the remains of putrid fishes; and his own body has a bad smell. The dogs chase the otter spontaneously, and easily apprehend him when at a distance from water or from his hole. But, when seized, he defends himself, bites the dogs most cruelly, and sometimes with such force as to break their leg-bones, and never quits his hold but with life. The beaver, however, who is not a very strong animal, pursues the otters, and will not allow them to live on the same banks with himself.

3. The lutreola, or small otter, has very broad hairy feet, and a white mouth; and seldom exceeds a foot in length. The body is of a tawny and dusky colour mixed together; the fur having two series of hairs, the shorter of which are yellowish and the long black. This animal inhabits Poland, Finland, Russia, and Siberia; frequenting marshy places, and preying Mus

on fish and frogs. It is caught with dogs and traps, and is excessively fetid; but its fur is very valuable, being esteemed next in beauty to that of the sable.

4. The canadensis, or Canadian otter, is of a black colour, and the fur is smooth. It has a long taper tail; and inhabits Canada and other parts of North America.

5. The guianensis, or small Guiana otter, with the hind-feet webbed, the toes of the fore-feet unconnected, and a long taper naked tail, inhabits Cayenne, and probably other parts of South America. It is only about seven inches long from the nose to the rump; the tail is near seven; the upper parts of the head and body are marked with large brownish black spots, exactly corresponding on both sides, and the intervals are of a yellowish grey colour; all the under parts of the body and head, and the fore-parts of the fore-legs, are white, and there is a white spot over each eye; the ears are large and round; and the mouth is garnished with long whiskers. Buffon informs us that there are three species of otters in Cayenne: 1st, Black, which weighs from 40 to 50 French pounds. 2d, Yellowish, weighing 20 or 25 pounds. 3d, The small greyish kind above described, which only weighs three or four pounds. The other two are not described; but they are said to appear in numerous troops, to be very fierce and dangerous, and to defend themselves against dogs, biting very cruelly; they litter in holes which they dig on the banks of rivers; are often tamed and brought up in houses.

The otters, of which there are several more species described by authors, are distinguished from the following tribe, the weasels, by having their feet palmated or webbed; whereas the latter have their toes separate, or unconnected by any web or membrane.

1. The galera, tayra, or Guinea weasel, is of an uniform dusky colour, the fur very rough. It is about the size of a rabbit, and is shaped like a rat. It inhabits Guiana; where it burrows in the ground by means of its fore-feet, which are strong and formed for digging. It is very common about the negro villages, and is exceedingly fierce and destructive to poultry.

2. The lona, or common martin, is of a blackish chestnut colour, with the throat and breast white: the head and body measure 18 inches in length, the tail 10. The martin inhabits Britain, Germany, France, and most parts of the south of Europe, and even the warmer parts of Russia. He lives in woods, and goes about during the night in quest of prey. He is a most elegant lively animal. His movements are all exceedingly nimble; he rather bounds and leaps than walks. He climbs rough walls with ease and alacrity; enters the pigeon or hen houses, eats the eggs, pigeons, fowls, &c. and the female often kills great numbers, and transports them to her young. Helikeewise feizes mice, rats, moles, and birds in their nests. M. Buffon kept one of these animals for a considerable time. He tamed to a certain degree, but never formed any attachment, and continued always to wild, that it was necessary to chain him. He made war against the rats, and attacked the poultry whenever they came in his way. He often got loose, though chained by the middle of the body. At first he went to no great distance, and returned in a few hours; but without discovering any symptoms of joy or affection to any particular person. He, however, called for victuals like a cat or a dog. Afterwards he made longer excursions; and at last he thought proper never to return. He was then about a year and a half old, seemingly the age at which nature affirms her full ascendency. He ate everything preferred to him, except fallad and herbs; was fond of honey, and preferred hemp-feed to every other grain. It was remarked that he drank very often; that he sometimes slept two days successively, and at other times would sleep none for two or three days; that, before sleeping, he folded himself in a round form, and covered his head with his tail; and that, while awake, his motions were so violent, so perpetual, and so inconvenientous, that though he had not disturbed the fowls, it was necessary to chain him, to prevent him from breaking everything. The same author informs us, that he has had in his possession several martins of a more advanced age, which had been taken in nets; but they continued to be totally savage, bit all who attempted to touch them, and would eat nothing but raw flesh. The character of this animal is somewhat differently given by Mr Pennant; who says "it is very good-natured, sportive, and capable of being tamed." The younger females bring three or four at a birth; when older, they produce six or seven. They breed in hollows of trees; and are often, in winter, found in magpie's nests. The skin and excrements have a musky smell.

3. The martes, or pine-martin, has the body of a dark or blackish chestnut colour, the breast and throat yellow. It inhabits the north of Europe, Asia, and America; and is more rarely found in Britain, France, Germany, and Hungary; and as far as Tonquin and China. They live in large woods or forests, keeping in the daytime in the hollows of trees, occupying squirrels' nests, especially for their young, and go about only by night. They prey on squirrels, mice, rats, and small birds; eat likewise berries, ripe fruit, and honey; and, in winter, go in quest of pigeons and poultry. They procreate in February; and the female is said, after nine months, to bring forth seven or eight young ones. The head of this species is shorter, and the legs are somewhat longer, than in the common martin. The fur is far superior in fineness to that of the common kind, and is a prodigious article in commerce: those about Mount Caucasus, with an orange throat, are more esteemed by furriers than the rest.

4. The Guiana or South American martin, is of a dark brown colour, with a white forehead, and a long narrow stripe along the side of the neck. The body and head are near two feet long, and the tail is only about five inches. It inhabits Guiana.

5. The laniger, woolly weasel, or small Guiana martin, is covered with white woolly hair, and has a long taper tail: the body and head are near 16 inches long, and the tail near 9. It inhabits Cayenne.

6. The zibellina, or sable, has a great resemblance to the martin: from which it differs in having a longer head; longer ears, surrounded by a yellow margin; longer and more elegant fur; the feet more thickly clothed with hair; and the tail shorter than the hind-legs when extended, while that of the martin is much longer. The colour of the hair is cinereous at the bottom, and black at the tips; the chin is cinereous, sometimes white, yellowish, or spotted; the mouth is garnished with long whiskers; and the feet are large, with white claws. It inhabits the northern parts of Asia. Mus. Asia and America, Siberia, Kamtschatka, and the Kurile islands, and formerly in Lapland; being found in Asia as low as 58°, and in America even to 40° of latitude. The fables frequent the banks of rivers and the thickest parts of the woods; avoiding the rays of the sun, which are said in a short time to change the colour of their hair. They live in holes of the earth, or beneath the roots of trees; sometimes they will form nests in the trees, and skip with great agility from one to the other; they are very lively, and much in motion during the night. Gmelin tells us, that after eating, they generally sleep half an hour or an hour, when they may be pushed, shaken, and even pricked, without awaking. During the night they are excessively active and restless. A tame one kept by Gmelin was accustomed to rise upon its hind-legs on sight of a cat, in order to prepare for the combat. In the woods they are much infested by wild cats. During summer the fables prey on cranes, weasels, and squirrels, but especially on hares; in winter, on birds; in autumn, on whortleberries, cranberries, and the berries of the service-tree; but during this last season their skins are at the worst; that diet causing their skins to itch, and to rub off their fur against the trees. They bring forth at the end of March or beginning of April; and have from three to five at a time, which they suckle for four or five weeks. In spring, after shedding the coat, the fur is sometimes of a tawny cast, and sometimes varies to snowy whiteness. The blackest are reputed the best; and sometimes sell, even in Siberia, from one to ten pounds Sterling each. See the article SABLE.

7. The putorius, or pole-cat, is of a dirty yellow colour, with white muzzle and ears. He inhabits most parts of Europe, and in the temperate climates of Asiatic Russia; and has a great resemblance to the martin in temperament, manners, disposition, and figure. Like the latter, he approaches our habitations, mounts on the roofs, takes up his abode in hay-lofts, barns, and unfrequented places, from which he illuses during the night only in quest of prey. He burrows under ground, forming a shallow retreat about two yards in length, generally terminating under the roots of some large tree. He makes greater havoc among the poultry than the martin, cutting off the heads of all the fowls, and then carrying them off one by one to his magazine. If, as frequently happens, he cannot carry them off entire, on account of the smallness of the entry to his hole, he eats the brains, and takes only the heads along with him. He is likewise very fond of honey, attacks the hives in winter, and forces the bees to abandon them. The females come in season in the spring; and bring forth three, four, or five at a time. In the deserts of Asiatic Russia, polecats are sometimes found, especially in winter, of a white colour; they are likewise found beyond lake Baikal with white or yellowish rumps, bounded with black. It is exceedingly fetid, like several other species of this genus, especially the martin and fable, giving out from the anus a most offensive vapour when frightened. The male is mostly of a yellowish tinge, having a whitish muzzle, while the muzzle of the female is commonly of a yellowish dirty white.

8. The furo, or ferret, has red and fiery eyes; the colour of the whole body is of a very pale yellow; the length from nose to tail is about 14 inches, the Mustella tail five. In its wild state it inhabits Africa; from thence it was brought into Spain, in order to free that country from multitudes of rabbits with which it was over-run; and from Spain the rest of Europe has been supplied. This creature is incapable of bearing the cold, and cannot subsist even in France unless in a domestic state. The ferret is not in our climates endowed with the same capacity of finding his subsistence as other wild animals, but must be carefully nourished within doors, and cannot exist in the fields; for those who are lost in the burrows of rabbits never multiply, but probably perish during the winter. Like other domestic animals, he varies in colour. The female ferret is less than the male; and when in season, we are assured, she is so extremely ardent, that she dies if her desires are not gratified. Ferrets are brought up in casks or boxes, where they are furnished with beds of hemp or flax. They sleep almost continually. Whenever they awake, they search eagerly for food; and brown, bread, milk, &c. are commonly given them. They produce twice every year; and the female goes six weeks with young. Some of them devour their young as soon as they are brought forth, instantly come again in season, and have three litters, which generally consist of five or six, and sometimes of seven, eight, or nine. They are employed for hunting rabbits; and as in this country they are apt to degenerate, warreners are in use to cross the breed, procuring an intercourse between a female ferret and a male polecat, by leaving the former, when in season, near the haunts of the latter: The produce is of a much darker colour than the ferret, having a great resemblance to the polecat. This animal is by nature a mortal enemy to the rabbit. Whenever a dead rabbit is for the first time presented to a young ferret, he flies upon it, and bites it with fury; but if it be alive, he seizes it by the throat or the nose, and sucks its blood. When let into the burrows of rabbits, he is muzzled, that he may not kill them in their holes, but only oblige them to come out, in order to be caught in the nets. If the ferret is let in without a muzzle, he is in danger of being lost: for, after sucking the blood of the rabbit, he falls asleep; and even smoking the hole is not a certain method of recalling him; because the holes have often several entries which communicate with each other, and the ferret retires into one of those when incommodeed with the smoke. Boys likewise use the ferret for catching birds in the holes of walls, or of old trees. The ferret, tho' easily tamed, and rendered docile, is extremely irritable; its odour is always disagreeable; but when he is irritated, it becomes much more offensive. His eyes are lively, and his aspect is inflammatory; all his movements are nimble; and he is at the same time so vigorous, that he can easily make a rabbit, tho' at least four times larger than himself.

9. The sarmatica, or Sarmatian weasel, is of a brownish black colour, spotted and striped irregularly with obscure yellow, and is about 14 inches in length, exclusive of the tail, which is six inches in length. It resembles the polecat, but has a narrower head, a more lengthened body, a longer tail, and shorter hair, except on the feet and tail; inhabits Poland, especially Volhynia, in the deserts of Russia between the Volga and Tanais, the mountains of Caucasus, Georgia, and Bucovina. This is a most voracious animal, which feeds on marmots, rats, mice, jerboas, birds, and other small animals. It procreates in spring, and after eight weeks the female, which has eight teats, brings forth from four to eight young ones. It lives in holes, sometimes of its own burrowing, but mostly in those which have been made by other animals, and is exceedingly fetid.

10. The vulgaris, or common weasel, foumart, or whitet, has the upper parts of the body of a pale reddish brown; the lower parts white. It inhabits the temperate and northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America, and as far to the southward as the northern provinces of Persia, and is said to be found even in Barbary. In the more northern parts of Russia and Sweden, particularly in Weitbottin, it becomes white in winter like the ermine; but even in this state it is easily distinguishable from the latter, being a great deal smaller; the body and head not exceeding seven inches long, and the tail two inches and a half. It is very destructive to young birds, poultry, and young rabbits; and is besides a great devourer of eggs. It does not eat its prey on the place; but, after killing it by one bite near the head, carries it off to its young, or to its retreat. It preys also on moles, as appears by its being sometimes caught in the mole-traps. It is a remarkably active animal; and will run up the sides of walls with such ease, that scarce any place is secure from it; and the body is so small, that there is scarce any hole but what is pervious to it.—This species is much more domestic than any of the rest, and frequents out-houses, barns, and granaries. It clears its haunt in a short time from mice and rats, being a much greater enemy to them than the cat itself. In summer, however, they retire farther from houses, especially into low grounds, about mills, along rivulets, concealing themselves among brushwood, in order to surprise birds; and often take up their abode in old willows, where the female brings forth her young. She prepares for them a bed of straw, leaves, and other herbage, and litters in the spring, bringing from six to eight or more at a time. The young are born blind; but soon acquire sight and strength sufficient to follow their mothers. Their motion consists of unequal and precipitant leaps; and when they want to mount a tree, they make a sudden bound, by which they are at once elevated several feet high. They leap in the same manner when they attempt to seize a bird. These creatures, as well as the pole-cat and ferret, have a disagreeable odour, which is stronger in summer than in winter; and when pursued or irritated, their smell is felt at a considerable distance. They move always with caution and silence, and never cry but when they are hurt. Their cry is sharp, rough, and very expressive of resentment. As their own odour is offensive, they seem not to be sensible of a bad smell in other bodies. M. Buffon informs us, that a peasant in his neighbourhood took three new-littered weasels out of the carcass of a wolf that had been hung up on a tree by the hind-feet. The wolf was almost entirely putrefied, and the female weasel had made a nest of leaves and herbage for her young in the thorax of this putrid carcass. The weasel may be perfectly tamed, and rendered as carefree and frolicksome as a dog or squirrel. The method of taming them is to stroke them often and gently over the back; and to threaten, and even to beat them when they bite. In the domestic state their odour is never offensive but when irritated. They are fed with milk, boiled flesh, and water.

11. The erminea, or ermine, has the tail tipped with black, and has been distinguished by authors into two varieties, the float and the white ermine, though the difference seems chiefly to depend on climate and the season of the year; the float of a pale tawny brown or reddish yellow colour in summer, becoming the white ermine of winter in cold countries. They inhabit the north of Europe, Asia, and America, and as far as the northern parts of Persia and China; living in heaps of stones on the banks of rivers, in the hollows of trees, and particularly in forests, especially those of beech, preying on squirrels and lemmings. In manners and food this animal resembles the common weasel, but does not frequent houses, haunting chiefly in woods and hedges, especially such as border on brooks or rivulets. In general appearance it comes very near to the martin, but is shorter in the body, being scarcely ten inches long from nose to rump, and the tail about five and a half; the hair is likewise shorter and less shining than in that animal. In the northern regions, the fur of the ermine becomes entirely white during winter, except the outer half of the tail, which remains black. The skin is reckoned valuable, and falls in Siberia from two to three pounds Sterling a-hundred; but in ancient times it was in much greater request than now. In summer, the upper part of the body is of a pale tawny brown colour; the edges of the ears, and ends of the toes, are yellowish white; the throat, breast, and belly are white; in winter, in the more temperate regions, it is sometimes mottled with brown and white; but in more severe winters becomes entirely white; the farther north and the more rigorous the climate, the white is the purer; those of Britain generally retain a yellowish tinge. In Persia and other more southern parts, it is brown the whole year. In Siberia they burrow in the fields, and are taken in traps baited with flesh. In Norway they are either shot with blunt arrows, or taken in traps made of two flat stones, one being propped up with a stick, to which is fastened a baited string, which when the animals nibble, the stone falls down and crushes them to death. The Laplanders take them in the same manner, only instead of stones make use of two logs of wood.

There are about 12 other species of the weasel tribe described by authors.—A beautiful species of weasel, as it is called by some authors and universally considered by the Arabians, is described by Mr Bruce in his Appendix under the name of El Fennee. It is about ten inches long from the snout to the tail; the tail near five inches and a quarter, and about half an inch of it black at the tip. From the point of the fore-shoulder to the point of the fore-toe it is two inches and seven eighths; from the occiput to the point of the nose, two inches and a half; and the ears are three inches and three eighths in length; and about an inch and a half in breadth, with the cavities very large. They are doubled, and have a plait on the outside; the border of the inside is thick and covered with white soft hair, the middle part being bare and of a rose or pink colour. The pupil of the eye eye is large and black, surrounded with a deep blue iris; the mustachoes are thick and strong; the tip of the nose is very sharp, black, and polished. There are four grinders on each side of the mouth, five fore teeth in each jaw, and the upper jaw projected beyond the lower one. The canine teeth are large, long, and very sharp pointed; the legs small, and the feet broad, with four toes armed with short, black, sharp retractile claws; those on the fore-feet being sharper than those behind. The whole body of the animal is of a dirty white, approaching to cream colour; the hair of the belly rather whiter, longer, and softer than the rest, with a number of paps upon it.

Mr Bruce obtained one of these animals for two sequins, by means of a janiby, who had it from a Turkish foot-soldier just returned from Biscara, a southern district of Mauritania Cesariensis, now called the Province of Constantina. According to his account, they are not uncommon in this district, though more frequently to be met with in the neighbouring date-territories of Beni Mezab and Werglab, the residence of the ancient Melano-Gætuli. In the Werglab the animals are hunted for their skins, which are sold at Mecca, and afterwards exported to India. Mr Bruce kept this one for several months at his country-house near Algiers, that he might learn its manners. Its favourite food he tells us was dates or other sweet fruit, yet it is also very fond of eggs. It devoured those of pigeons and small birds with great avidity when first brought to him; but did not seem to know how to manage hen's eggs, though when they were broken to him he ate the contents with as great avidity as the others. When hungry, he would eat bread, especially with honey or sugar. His attention was greatly engrossed by the sight of any bird flying across the room where he was, or confined in a cage near him, and could not be diverted from viewing it by placing biscuit before him; so that it seems probable, that he preys upon them in his wild state. He was extremely impatient of having his ears touched; so that it was with much difficulty that they could be measured; and, on account of this impatience, it was found impossible to count the protuberances or paps on his belly. He seemed very much frightened at the sight of a cat; and endeavoured to hide himself, though he did not appear to meditate any defence. On this occasion also he lowered his ears, which at other times he kept erect. Notwithstanding his impatience, he would suffer himself, though with difficulty, to be handled in the day-time; but in the night he was extremely restless, always endeavouring to make his escape; and though he did not attempt the wire, yet with his sharp teeth he would soon have made his way through a wooden one, as two others which they attempted to bring along with him actually did. These animals are very swift of foot. They build their nests in trees, particularly the palms, of which they eat the fruit; feeding also on locusts and other insects, and perhaps sometimes preying upon small birds. Mr Bruce has a long criticism on Dr Sparmann for pretending that one Mr Brander was the discoverer of this animal, whereas he says that he himself gave it to Mr Brander. This is the same animal with that formerly described as a species of Canis† under the name of zerda, and of which a figure is given in Plate CXX. Its exact place in the zoological system has not yet been ascertained.