Short-tailed Weasel 845 



The Weasels of this group are neither sociable nor grega- socia- 

 rious; they are, indeed, an unlovely lot, no matter how we look ^^^^''^ 

 at them. 



Nevertheless, for guidance of future observers, it may be stoat 

 well to remember that the British Stoat, their near kinsman, is 

 known to unite in numbers on occasion for the common good. 

 Thus E. T. Booth records^ a case of 20 to 30 uniting to attack 

 a terrier dog. Other cases are recorded of their attacking 

 men. And Millais refers' to the well-known fact that a pack 

 of 6 or 8 will unite to hunt. 



There is little doubt that the insufferable smell of the inter- 

 'stinking' Weasels was developed originally as a method of nic.v 

 intercommunication, as a means of getting at their friends; '^^^^ 

 though not a few, notably the Skunk, and in a less degree the 

 present one, have carried it so far that they now find it an 

 effectual means of getting at their enemies. 



The sharply demarked white and brown with the black 

 tail-tip are believed to be the uniform or directive marks of 

 this species. They are shown by no other mammal of the size 

 in North America. So far as I know, they are not civilized 

 enough to use the smell-telephone (see Wolf). 



All of the Weasels growl, snarl, hiss or puff, or utter a voice 

 reiterated sharp sound, which is like a bark in the large species 

 and a shrill screech in the small ones, and record is made 

 herein later of a female, presumably of the present kind, calling 

 her young by a "sort of grumbling coo." 



British Stoats, according to Millais,' "will stop and bark for 

 a long time at some object that puzzles them." When playing, 

 Stoats give out a chuckling, happy sound, uttered in a high and 

 a low key. When angry, they make a loud chattering noise, and, 

 when hunting in packs and in full cry, are said to 'give tongue.' 



Little is known of the mating of this animal. There is mating 

 some reason for believing it takes place about the third week 



' Field, October 6, 1883. 



' Mam. G. B. & I., 1905, Vol. II, p. 122-3. * ^^^^- 



