Mink 



873 



An ordinary male weighs about 2 pounds, but I have seen weight 

 aduhs that were only 1 1 to i f pounds. The largest I ever weighed 

 was taken at Winnipeg, November i, 1907; it turned the scale 

 at 2 pounds 6 ounces. The females are considerably less than 

 the males, weighing, according to 

 Resseque,' about i pound 10 ounces. 



In general the Mink is nearly colour 

 uniform umber-brown, darker and 

 glossier on the back, and deepening 

 on the tail nearly to black; the chin 

 is more or less white, and there may 

 be some white spots anywhere on 

 throat, breast or belly, but these 

 are very irregular; some speci- 

 mens are totally without white. In 

 the American species the white 

 does not reach the upper lip. In 

 the Siberian species the upper lip is 

 normally white. This animal does not turn white in winter. 

 The impression it gives as it dodges in the woods along the 

 water is of a long, thin rat, with brown fur and hairy tail. 



The following races are recognized: 



vtson Schreber, the typical form. 

 lacustris Preble, a larger race. 

 vulgivagus Bangs, paler, with heavier dentition. 

 energumenos Bangs, very large and very dark. 

 ingens Osgood, very large and somewhat dark. 

 lutreocephalus Harlan, larger than the type with 

 shorter and paler fur. 



Life-history. 



Fig. 200 — Right paws of young Min k d*. 

 (Life size.) 



Desbarats, Ont.. Aug. 17, 1904. 



The range of the Mink includes all of Manitoba; it is range 

 found even along the sloughs of the prairie region, although it is 



' Coues, Fur-bearing Anim., 1877, p. 183. 



