XXXIX. 

 The Mink, Minx or Vison. 



Putorius vison (Schreber). 



(L. Putorius, a 'stinker,' applied, for good reason, to all the Weasels; vison, meaning?) 



Mustela vison ScHREBER, 1778, Saugthiere, III, p. 463. 

 Putorius visoTJ Gapper, 1830, Zool. Journ., V, p. 202. 

 Type Locality. — Eastern Canada. 



French Canadian, le Foutereau. 



Cree, Sang-gwiss'. According to Richardson, Shak- 



zuashew or Atjackasheiv. 

 OjIBWAY, Shang-gwes'-se. 

 Saut., Sang'-way-soo. 

 Chipewyan, Tel-chu'-say. 

 Ogallala Sioux, Lo-chin'-cha. 

 Yankton Sioux, Doke-sesch. 



The word ' Mink' is usually traced to the Swedish 'Maenk, 

 though it is not clear how or when the word crossed the ocean. 



The genus Putorius (Cuv., 1817) comprises Weasel-like 

 animals with long, slender bodies, short legs with five toes on 

 each foot, more or less bushy tails, short ears, and teeth as 

 follows: 



Inc. ^^-^; can. ; prem. ^^-^; mol. =34 



3-i I -I i-i 2-2 



The Mink unites these characters w ith the following: 

 Length, about 24 inches (610 mm.); tail, 7 inches (178 



mm.); hind-foot, 2-1 inches (63 mm.). The females are 



smaller. 



872 



