46 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXIII 



June I, 1910, north-east of Guelph, Ont., I saw a 

 weasel carrying a young one in its mouth as it fol- 

 lowed along the bottom of a fence leading from 

 a strip of woods. This individual may have been 

 M. cicognanii. 



Short-tailed Weasel, Mustela cicognanii 

 (Bonaparte). 



The Short-tailed or Bonaparte's Weasel is the 

 most abundant species in Canada. Its numbers 

 like other mammals of course are very variable as 

 regards locality. Under favorable conditions M. 

 cicognanii usually claims first notice throughout its 

 range ; the latter, including that of its closely allied 

 races, covers almost the entire Dominion from coast 

 to coast. Its range in the United States is governed 

 by the boreal conditions existing in the Canadian 

 and Upper Transition zones. 



The summer color above is much like M. lon- 

 gicauda, a warm brown; under parts white, but 

 sometimes tinged with sulphur-yellow. In winter the 

 fur IS pure white with a slight xanthic diffusion on 

 tail, rump and hind legs. This stain is thought to 

 exude to some extent from the odorous glands situ- 

 ated at the base of the tail. The latter is one-third 

 its total length, and the black tip one-third the length 

 of the tail. 



Measurements of M. cicognanii: Total length 

 about 1 1 '/2 inches (292 mm.); tail vertebrae, 3% 

 inches (95 mm.); hind foot, 1^ inches (38 mm.) 



The female is considerably smaller, probably as 

 much as one-fifth. 



With the exception of the narrow belt of the 

 Upper Austral zone above Lake Erie, this species 

 ranges over the entire province of Ontario. It is 

 common in the counties of Wellington and Water- 

 loo. In a recent letter, Mr. Saunders informs me 

 that he had no record of this species from London 

 or the western part of the peninsula, but has skins 

 from Durham and Ottawa, and a record by Hobson 

 from Woodstock. 



Winter is the time when this weasel is most 

 in evidence. The dainty paired tracks may be 

 seen in the snow about fences, log heaps, wind-falls, 

 etc., representing vividly the wanderings of the night. 

 In this the weasel is absolutely tireless, and withall, 

 a very eager hunter. The white fur renders it al- 

 most invisible; except for the black tip on the tail 

 it might bound by unseen. 



The ermine trail may easily be distinguished from 

 that of all other animals by its size in conjunction 

 with the symmetry of its paired tracks. The mink 

 trail is similar, but very much larger. The hind 

 feet register almost, if not exactly in the front-foot 

 impressions, with the right front and hind feet lag- 

 ging slightly behind. The sequence of tracks with 

 a bcunding animd is not as regula-r between in- 



dividual impressions as that of a running or walk- 

 ing animal, due to the variation in the length of 

 jumps from time to time. The ermine being a 

 bounding animal leaves a wide range of space 

 lengths between imprints. The distance normally 

 is about 19 inches, representing a regular rate of 

 travel. The "jumps," however, depend entirely 

 upon the mood, purpose or demands of the traveller. 

 Sometimes they are no further apart than 6 or 8 

 inches; obviously the ermine is slowing down for 

 more acute observation, scents prey or some similar 

 reason. In traversing open spaces they resort to 

 long, graceful leaps upwards of six feet in length. 

 On January 5, 1919, I measured a record for M. 

 cicognanii, a remarkable jump of 8 feet, 2 inches. 

 The larger species should naturally be able to ex- 

 ceed this, but whether they do no not I am unable 

 to say. 



For pure audacity, I have seen enough of this 

 species to prompt his classification as a ring-leader. 

 Weasel reputation is, however, I think, very largely 

 exaggerated. In rural sections the animal is seldom 

 discussed apart from the hen-roost, for it seems 

 firmly impressed upon the population that every 

 weasel, big and little, here or there, now or any- 

 time, is by right, might and heritage a blood soaked 

 villain of endless carnage. But then some reason- 

 ing would dispel that view. Unfortunately for the 

 whole lot the evil of one jeopardizes all. Individual 

 temperament in animals is probably quite as diversi- 

 fied as in human beings, wherewith due allowance 

 should be made for individual exception. Weasels 

 do stand on the aggressive, but only a few interfere 

 with the farmer. 



I remember a little incident that happened on a 

 summer night a number of years ago. About ten 

 o'clock an old mother hen covering a brood of 

 chicks, near the house, began to cackle anxiously, 

 becoming gradually more positive until in about five 

 minutes she opened up with a whirlwind of vocifer- 

 ous hysterics, sufficient to arouse the soundest sleeper. 

 I dressed hurriedly and with light invaded the 

 troubled region, expecting to find a skunk (Mephitis) 

 on a stroll with views and tastes similar to certain 

 southern dwellers, but it was only a solitary little 

 M. cicognanii. Three chicks had been killed and 

 the remainder was under very active consideration. 



At Edmonton they were very common during 

 1912-14. In two or three weeks each of two 

 winters I trapped about sixty ermine over an area 

 of not more than nine square miles. A great deal 

 of this area escaped the trap in running the lines 

 making it safe to discount one-third, leaving six 

 square miles. I believe when I ceased operation 

 that nearly as many remained free as were taken. 

 Halving sixty for the one year and doubling for 



