he was again seeking the earth,
evidently not, as he ascended, in spiral curves; it was like something
falling, and with great rapidity. But, as he approached the ground,
they clearly saw he was tumbling in his fall like a shot bird; the
convulsive fluttering of his powerful wings stopping the descent but
very little, until he fell at a small distance from the men and boys of
the party, who had naturally run forward, highly excited by the strange
occurrence. A large black-tailed weasel or stoat ran from the body as
they came near; turned with the _nonchalance_ and impudence of the
tribe; stood up upon its hind legs; crossed its fore paws over its
nose, and surveyed its enemies a moment or two,--as they often do when
no dog is near,--and bounded into a saugh bush. The king of the air was
dead; and, what was more surprising, he was covered with his own blood;
and, upon further examination, they found his throat cut, and the
weasel has been suspected as the regicide unto this day."

THE POLECAT.

This animal, which is confined to the eastern continent, is thrice the
size of the weasel, but its prey is nearly the same. It has as high a
reputation in Europe, for its offensive smell, as the skunk has here.
The following fact is recorded in Bewick's Quadrupeds: "During a severe
storm, one of these animals was traced in the snow from the side of a
rivulet to its hole at some distance from it. As it was observed to
have made frequent trips, and as other marks were to be seen in the
snow, which could not easily be accounted for, it was thought a matter
worthy of greater attention. Its hole was accordingly examined, the
polecat taken, and eleven fine eels were discovered to be the fruits of
its nocturnal exertions. The marks on the snow were found to have been
made by the motions of the eels while in the creature's mouth."

THE FERRET.

This animal is a native of Africa, and requires much care to preserve
it alive in cold countries. It is kept for the purpose of dislodging
rabbits from their warren, and has such a natural antipathy to these
animals, that, if a dead one be presented to a young ferret, though it
has never seen a rabbit before, it will eagerly seize it. Like the rest
of the species, it is remarkable for the pertinacity with which it
retains the bite which it has once taken. This circumstance is
illustrated by the following occurrence: A man, of the name of Isles, a
bargeman, finding himself much incommoded b