THIS animal is analagous [sic] to the weasel and ermine. M. Allamand gave the first description and figure of it under the name of grison, in the 15th volume of the Dutch edition of my work, which he describes in the following manner.
“I received,” says he, “from Surinam, the small animal represented in the plate.+ In the catalogue it was called the gray weasel, from which circumstance I derived the name grison, because I know not how it is denominated in the country where it is found. The whole upper part of its body is covered with deep brown hair, having white points, which gives a grayish brown colour: Under the head and neck is a bright gray, because the hairs there are very short, and the white part is of equal length with the brown. The muzzle, the under part of the body and legs, are black; which singularly contrasts with the gray colour on the head and neck.”
“The head of this animal is very large in proportion to its body; its ears form almost a semi-circle; its eyes are large; and its mouth is [266] armed with strong grinders, and sharp tusks. It has six cutting teeth in each jaw, four of them hardly rising above the gums. Both the fore and hind feet have five toes, with yellowish claws. The tail is pretty long, and terminates in a point.”
“The grison has a greater resemblance to the weasel than to any other animal. But it belongs not to the weasel tribe; for its body is not long enough, and its legs are too long. It is not mentioned by any author or traveller. I shewed it to several persons who had lived long in Surinam; but none of them knew it; hence it either must be a rare animal, even in its native country, or it must live only in desert and unfrequented places. The length of its body is about seven inches. I have not been able to learn any thing of its history.” [267]
* A new animal from Buffon’s Supplement.
+ Edition de Holande, tom 15 [back to page 266].