The historie of foure-footed beastes Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.

OF THE FITCH OR POVL-CAT.

[illustration]

[ 20] [ 30]

THe difference of a Poul-cat from the wild-cat, is because of her strong stin∣king sauour, and therefore is called Putorius of Putore because of his ill smell: for al weasils being incensed and prouokt to wrath, smell strongly, & especially the Poul-cat; likewise when in the spring time they endeuour procreation, for which cause among the Germans (when they would ex∣presse an infamous Whoore or whoore-maister) they say they stinke like an Iltis that is a fitch or Poul-cat. The French call this beast Putois, and Poytois, as it is to be found in Ca∣rolus Figulus, the Sauoyens Pouttett, the Illirians and Bohemians Tchorz, and the Polo∣nians Vijdra; and Scaliger calleth it in Latine (Catum fuinam) by another name thē Puto∣rius. [ 40] It is greater then an ordinary weasill, but lesser then the wilde Martell, and yet com∣monly fatter: the haires of it are neither smooth and of one length, or of one colour; for the short haires are somewhat yellowish, and the long ones blacke, so as one would thinke that in many places of the body, there were spottes of diuers colours, but yet about the mouth it is most ordinarily white.

The skin is stiffe, harsh, and rugged in handling, and therefore long lasting in Gar∣ments, yet because the beast is alwaie fat, the sauor of it is so rank, that it is not in any great request, and moreouer it is said that it offendeth the heade, and procureth ache therein; and therefore it is sold cheaper then a Foxe skinne, and the fattest is alway the worst of all. The skinners approue the skins of fitches and Martils best, which are killed in winter, be∣cause [ 50] their flesh and lust is much lower, and therefore rendereth a lesse hurtfull smell then at other times. The taile is not aboue two handes or palmes long, and therefore shor∣ter then is a Martilles. In all other partes of the bodye it equalleth a Martill, or ex∣ceedeth very little, hauing thinner Neckes, but larger and greater Bellies, the Taile, Legges, and breast, are also of a blacker colour, but the belly and sides, more yellow. Some haue deliuered that the left legges thereof are shorter then the right legs, but this is

founde vntrue by daily experience: They keepe in the toppes of houses and secret corners, delighting to kil and eat hens and chickens, whose craft in deuouring his prey is singular, for to the intent that the silly creatures to be deuoured may not bewray them to the house-keepers, the first part that they lay hold vpon with their mouths is the heade of the hen and chicken, and by that means stayeth his crying by cropping off the head. Some of these Fitches wander and keep in the woods, and thereby liue vpon birds and mise, and such things: some againe liue by the Sea sides in rockes, and they take Fishes, like Beuers and Otters: and some creepe into the caues of hollow trees, where they eat Frogges, and most of all they delight to be neare stals of cattel, hay-houses, and houses, where they meet [ 10] oftentimes with Egs, wherein they delight aboue al other kinds of meat. And thus much for this beast.

Notes

• Isidorus. The name & the notation thereof.
• The quanti∣ty and nature of this b••••st Stumpsius Agricola
• The skins & vse of them.
• I••••lorus. Their meate and subtletie not to be descryed