Encyclopaedia Americana: a popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, brought down to the present time : including a copious collection of original articles in American biography : on the basis of the seventh edition of the German Conversations-Lexicon (Volume 13).

Date:: 1830-33

Credit: Encyclopaedia Americana: a popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, brought down to the present time : including a copious collection of original articles in American biography : on the basis of the seventh edition of the German Conversations-Lexicon (Volume 13). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

Title Page

106/608

WEASEL—WEAVING. known in the domesticated state, and is employed to drive rabbits out of their bur- rows. According to Strabo, it was brouglit originally from Africa.—The ermine (M. erminea) is about nine inches in lengtli from the nose to the base of the tail; and the latter measures about four inches. In summer, the color is chestnut-brown above, and yellowish-white beneath; and, in this state, the animal is sometimes called the stoat; but, in winter, it is en- tirely pui-e white, with the exception of the tip of the tail, which is black at all sea- sons. It is fond of wild and rocky situations, and is found in all the extreme northern parts of the globe, and in this country even as far south as our Northern and Middle States, The winter skins form a well-known article of commerce. It is very abundant in the vicinity of Hudson's bay.—The true weasel [M. vulgaris) is only about six inches in length to the base of the tail, and the tail an mch and a half The upper parts of the body, as well as the tail, are clear brown, and the under parts generally white. It is found in the temperate parts of the eastern con- tinent, and frequents the vicinity of habi- tations.—The mink [M. lutreola) is entire- ly of a deep-brown, except a white spot on the lower Up, which sometimes extends in a straight line to the middle of the throat. This animal lives in the vicinity of water-courses, and feeds on frogs, fish, &c.: in short, in habits and appearance, it strongly resembles the otter in minia- ture. The membrane which connects the toes is remarkable for its extent, which structure renders the animal better adapt- ed for an aquatic life: accordingly, the mink swims and dives with great facility, and can remain under water for a consid- erable length of time. It does not, how- ever, confine itself strictly to the water, but sometimes invades the poultry yards, when it commits as great ravages as any of the U'ibe. It is found throughout North America, fi*om Caroluia to Hudson's bay, and is also common in the north of Eu- rope and Siberia.—The pine martin (M. martes) is nearly as large as a cat. The color is a brilliant fulvous brown, inclin- ing to blackish on the limbs and tail, with a large yellowish patch on the throat. It lives only in the depths of the forest, as- cending trees to surprise birds and squir- rels, and often occupying the nest of the latter for the pui-pose of bringing forth its young. It is found in the northern parts of both contuients, and in this country as far soutli as the Northern and Middle States. A vast amount of the skins are annually collected in Canada. The fur is used in manufacturing hats, and is most generally prefeired for ornamenting and increasing the warmth of winter dresses. —The European martin [M.foina] is dis- tinguished from the preceding by a large patch of white on the throat. It appears to be confined to the eastern continent.— The fisher, or pekan [M. Canadensis), ie readily distinguished by its larger size, being from twenty-four to thirty inches long, exclusive of the tail, which measures from thirteen to seventeen inches. The general color is brown, with some of the hairs grayish at the extremities. The name is an improper one, for it by no means frequents the vicinity of water, but preys on small quadmpeds, birds and their eggs, &c.: indeed, its mode of fife is sim- ilar, in every respect, to that of the pine martin. It is peculiar to North America, and is found from Pennsylvania to the sixty-second parallel of latitude.—The sa- ble (M. zibellina). All the preceding spe- cies have naked tubercles on the soles of the feet, but, in the sable, these parts are entirely covered with hair. The general color of the fur is bro^vn, more or less bril- liant, with the inferior parts of the throat and neck grayish. It lives in the same man- ner as the pine martin, in the depths of the forest, and inhabits all the northern parts of Europe and Asia. This is tlie most celebrated of the tribe, not only on account of the richness of the fur, but from the horrors of the chase, carried on in the depth of winter, among mountains covered with ice, and in the deepest snows, in the coldest and most desolate regions to which man has yet penetrated. It was the search for sables which led to the discovery of Eastern Siberia. Their skins form a considerable article of com- merce with the Russians.—M. huro of F. Cuvier is a species from Canada, hav- ing the fur almost as fine as that of the . sable, and the soles of the feet covered with Jiair in a similar manner, but of a pale yellowish-brown color, with the feet and tail darker. Little is known of this animal, or of the district which it inhabits. A specimen was obtained by Lewis and Clarke, during their journey to the Pacific, and is now deposited in the Philadelphia museum. According to Pallas, skins of the sable are common among the furs sent from the extreme north-westem point of America to the inhabitants of the opposite angle of Asia. Weaving, the art of producing cloth, by the combination of flexible fibres, is performed upon a frame called a loom, the

Licence and re-use

Contents