Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/341

307&#93; WE A hand', they should not be precipi- tately removed from the breast ; because this tender part is thus lia- ble to become inflamed, and ulce- rated ; so that scirrhous tumors, and even cancers, may arise from such conduct. Lastly, the diet of children, when weaned, ought to be light, and adapted to the strength of their stomach, and constitution : hence, all coarse food must be strictly avoided, during the first and second year of life ; for such mistaken indulgence often lays the founda- tion of diseases originating from a bad digestion ; of scrophula, or other glandular afFeftions; and even of eventual consumption, at the age of puberty. WEASEL, the Common, or Mustella vulgaris, L. a diminutive animal of prey, frequenting barhs, granaries, and out-houses : its body seldom exceeds 6 or 7 inches in length, and the legs are remarka- bly short. "Weasels propagate in the sum- mer, when they retire to low grounds, near mills ; and cither conceal themselves among brush- wood, or in old willows ; the fe- male producing from Ci to 8 young ones, that are blind at first, but soon acquire their sight, and are enabled to join their parents in iiofturnal depredations. — Like the Polecat, and Ferret, weasels emit a very offensive odour 3 and, though of a diminutive size, they are formidable enemies to many larger animals. Among rabbits, poultry, and young birds, weasels commit extensive devastations, and they likewise devour incalculable numbers of eggs. But to coun- terbalance, in sorne measure, these depredations, they also destroy W E A [307 many . noxious animals, such as rats, mice, and moles. The following method of en- trapping weasels has often been practised with success : It consists of a wooden box, or hutch, resem- bling the kennel usually provided for a house-dog; but it is divided in the middle by an open wire-parti- tion, extending from one end to the other ; and being again sepa- rated into two cages, one of which may be baited with a tame rabbit, and the other with a live fowl ; while the remainder of the hutch may be formed into a falling box, for securing the depredator. This trap may be placed in coppices, and hedge-rows. — See also Martin. WEASEL- SNOUT, Yellow- Archangel, or Yellow Dead- nettle, Guleoldolon luteuin, L. is an indigenous perennial, growing in woods, shady places, and moist hedges j blowing in the month oi" ^May, The flowers of this plant afford to bees an abundant supply of honey. WEATHER, a term denoting the state of the atmosphere, with respc6t to Heat, Cold, Hail, Rain, Snow, &c. Having already discussed, in the course of this work, the pheno- mena of the meteors above men- tioned, we shall at present com- municate a few simple rules, which may serve to prognosticate the weather, or to ascertain its future variations, with tolerable accuracy. For this purpose, Mr. Kirwak C" Trail sa£iio7is of the Royal. Irish Academy," vol. v.) has laid down the following plan, from observa- tions that had been made in Eng- land, during a period of 112 yearsj namely, from 1677 to 17S9. 1. A(Vhen no storm has either X 3 preceded