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Weasels vary in length from 15 to 35 centimetres, and usually have a light brown upper coat and a white belly; in many species, populations living at high latitudes moult to a pure white coat in winter. They have long slender bodies, which enable them to follow their prey into burrows. Their tails are typically almost as long as the rest of their bodies. Weasels are intelligent creatures that are known for their cleverness and guile.

Most weasels feed on small mammals, and in former times were considered vermin since some species took poultry from farms, or rabbits from commercial warrens.

Of the 16 species classified in the genus Mustela, only 10 have "weasel" in their common name. Among those that do not are the Stoat, the two species of Mink, and the Polecats or FerretIn general use, a ferret is a Domestic Ferret Mustela putorius furo , a creature first bred from the wild European Polecat at least 2,500 years ago. Several other small, elongated carnivorous mammals belonging to the family Mustelidae also have the word "s.

In mythologyThis article is about a system of myths. For the 1942 book Mythology see its author Edith Hamilton. A mythology is a relatively cohesive set of myths: stories that comprise a certain religion or belief system. What is mythology? Myths are generally storie, it is sometimes said that the only thing which can kill a basiliskA basilisk (from the Greek basileus a king) is a mythical reptile, reputed to be king of serpents, which is supposed to have the power of causing death by look alone. According to the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder, the basilisk is a small snake th is a weasel, though it would be killed in the conflict as well.