296 THK ORISON. 



The Common Mink (Putorius vison) also belongs to the list, as well as the Little Black 

 Mink (P. nigrescens). 



The former is, perhaps, better known to our people of the Northeastern States than any 

 other. Its fur was at one time very much in request for wear. It is one of the most beautiful 

 of American furs. 



The latter species is the one that furnishes the darker fur, which is regarded as next to the 

 Sable in beauty and worth. It is found in Massachusetts, and westward to Kansas. 



THE lively little animal which is known by the name of the TAYRA is an inhabitant of 

 tropical America, where it is found in moderate numbers, though not in very great profusion. 



The color of the Tayra is a uniform black, slightly tinged with brown, with the exception 

 of a large white patch which covers the throat and upper portion of the chest. It is said to 

 take up its residence in burrows, which ii scoops for itself in the ground. In captivity it is 

 extremely lively and amusing, performing every movement in a sharp, quick manner, and 

 accompanying its actions with an odd little chuckle, something like that of a hen calling to 

 her chicks. The eye of the Tayra is small, bright, and brown in color. It is sometimes known 

 by the title of the Great Weasel, under which name it has been described by Azara, who has, 

 unfortunately, not left any account of its habits in a wild state. Its nature, manners, and 

 customs are, however, said to resemble those of the following animal. 



The size of the Tayra is nearly equal to that of the common Marten. 



THE GRISON, or HURON, is a, native of the Brazils, and is very common about the vicinity 

 of Paraguay. 



In its natural disposition it is exceedingly fierce, and is a terrible foe to almost every 

 animal that it chooses to attack. Even in a state of domestication the savage instinct cannot 

 be eradicated, for even when the Grison is rendered sufficiently tame to suffer the touch of the 

 human hand, and to return the caresses of those to whose presence it was accustomed, it has 

 been known to break loose from its confinement, and to slaughter some unfortunate animal 

 that happened to be within its reach. 



A Grison that belonged to Mr. Bell contrived to get out of a cage in which it had been 

 placed, and to attack a young alligator that had been brought into the same chamber. The 

 alligators were, as the above-mentioned author quaintly remarks, " stupidly tame, and had, 

 on a certain evening, been laid before a fire in order to enjoy the welcome heat. In the morn- 

 ing, when their owner entered the room, he found that the Grison had made its escape, and 

 had attacked one of the alligators with such savage fury that it had torn a considerable hole 

 under one of the fore-legs, just where the large nerves and blood-vessels run, and had inflicted 

 so terrible an injury that the poor creature died from the effects of its wound. The other 

 alligator, although unhurt, was in a strongly excited state, snapping angrily at every one who 

 approached it. 



Another Grison, that was domesticated by M. F. Cuvier, committed a similarly fatal 

 assault on a rather valuable animal. Although it was always well supplied with food, it 

 became so excited at the presence of a lemur, that it broke the bars of its cage, and inflicted 

 a mortal injury on the poor animal which had so unexpectedly called forth the innate ferocity 

 of its character. 



Yet this animal was remarkable for its docility and gentle playfulness, and was always 

 ready for a game with any one who would spend a few minutes in the mock combats in which 

 it delighted. The play of all wild-natured animals is a mock fight, and is often rather prone 

 to become a real battle, if their combative nature be too much excited. The Grison would, 

 when challenged to play, turn on its back, seize the fingers of its human playfellow between 

 its jaws, hold them to its mouth, and press them gently with its teeth. It never bit with 

 sufficient force to cause pain, so that its ferocious onslaught on the lemur would not have 

 been expected from an animal of so gentle a nature. It was possessed of a very retentive 

 memory, and could recognize its friends by the touch of their fingers, without needing to see 

 their owners. 



