of the Mackenzie River District. 29 



Of the above the only species whicli can be included among 

 our fur-bearing animals is : 



PuTORius VisoN, or common Mink, 



Sp. ch. Tail about half as long as the body. The winter color 

 varies, according to the age of the specimen, from a very dark 

 blackish brown, to a deep chesnut. Tail not bushy and very 

 black. End of chin white. Length of head and body about 20 

 inches. Length of tail with hairs about 10 inches. 



In shape the mink resembles an otter, as it also does in the 

 color and quality of its fur. In size it generally has about the 

 same dimension as the M. Americana. The color of its pelt varies 

 greatly. In winter its shades range from a dark chesnut to a rich 

 brownish black. The tint of all the body is uniform, except that 

 the belly is sensibly lighter, and that there is a series of white 

 blotches, running with greater or smaller breaks from the end of 

 the chin to some distance below the forelegs, and agaiu continued 

 with more regularity from the middle of the belly to the anus. In 

 some skins these markings are of small extent, but I have never 

 seen them entirely wanting. There are commonly spots 

 under either one or both of the forelegs, but not invariably. I 

 have remarked that the coloration of this animal as well as that 

 of the Otter and Beaver grows lighter as it advances in years, and 

 that the white blotches or spots are of greater size and more dis- 

 tinctness in the old than in the young. The fur of a young 

 mink (under three years) when killed in season is very handsome, 

 its color is often an almost pure black. The skin is thin and 

 pliable, approaching nearly to the papery consistency of that of 

 the martin. When aged the hide is thick and the color more 

 rusty. The summer pelage is short, but tolerably close, and is of a 

 reddish brown color, and the tail though still possessing black hairs, 

 shews distinctly the under fur of a decidedly rusty hue. Its feet are 

 rather pointed, and not large. Its legs are short but muscular, 

 and its track in the snow is easily distinguished from that of the 

 martin, whose longer and well covered paws do not sink so deep- 

 ly. Indeed when the snow is at all deep and soft, the mink 

 makes a regular furrow, similar to that made by an otter under 

 like circumstances, though of com'se smaller. Its claws are white 

 and about J- of an inch long. The mink is easily tamed and 

 is exceedingly graceful in its movements. When it locates near 



