126 



MAMMALS OF AMERICA 



to Hudson Bay, and south as far as Minnesota 

 and Montana. 



Its white coat in winter coupled with its dimin- 

 utive size makes it extremely hard to follow 

 through the snow. An observer says : " One 

 would suppose that this beautiful white fur of 

 winter, literally as white as the snow, might 

 prove a disadvantage at times by making its 

 owner conspicuous when the ground is bare in 

 winter, as it frequently is even in the North ; 

 yet though ^^^easels are about more or less by 

 day, you will seldom catch so much as a glimpse 

 of one at such times, though you may hear their 

 sharp chirrup close at hand. Though bold and 

 fearless, they have the power of vanishing in- 

 stantly, and the slightest alarm sends them to 

 cover. I have seen one standing within reach 

 of my hand in the sunshine on the exposed root 

 of a tree, and while I was staring at it, it van- 

 ished like the flame of a candle blown out, with- 

 out leaving me the slightest clue as to the direc- 

 tion it had taken. All the Weasels I have ever 

 seen, either in the woods or open meadows, dis- 

 appeared in a similar manner. How hawks, owls 

 or foxes ever succeed in catching them is a 



mystery, yet they do from time to time, though 

 certainly not often enough to reduce the number 

 of Weasels at any season." 



Mr. D. Costello relates an incident which oc- 

 curred many years ago while he was prospecting 

 in the mountains of northern Gunnison County, 

 Colorado, back of Crested Butte. Soon after 

 locating in a cabin adjacent to a large rock slide 

 just below timberline, he discovered that a Cony 

 was occupying a large grass nest beneath the 

 cabin floor. It often appeared in the cabin, com- 

 ing up through a broken board in the floor, and 

 in time became very friendly. Finally a day 

 came when the Cony did not make its usual ap- 

 pearance, but a tiny ^^'easel was seen at the hole 

 in the broken board, peering in all directions and 

 craning its long slim little neck with the bold 

 curiosity so characteristic of the larger Weasels. 

 Fearing for the welfare of the Cony, Mr. Cos- 

 tello killed the tiny cut-throat, but apparently too 

 late, as he saw no more of his interesting com- 

 panion. It seems probable that the Cony is often 

 preyed upon by this Weasel, as the same rock 

 slide has frecjuently been found to harbor both 

 animals. 



BLACK-FOOTED FERRET 



Mustela (= Putorius) nigripes {Audidw)! and Baclnnan) 



General Description. — Largest of the Weasel group. 

 See general description of .'\rctic Weasel. Form like 

 that of Arctic Weasel, but much larger in size, and body 

 proportionately heavier ; muzzle short ; ears short, 

 broad at base, closely furred; tail about '/} length of 

 head and body ; color above, reddish-brown ; below, 

 white; end of tail black. 



Dental Formula. — Same as that given for Arctic 

 Weasel. 



Pelage. — Adults : No seasonal variation. Color 

 above, rather reddish-brown with a dark area along 

 the back and with hairs white at the roots ; underfur 

 white, tinged with yellow, showing through the brown 



hairs to give a buft'y appearance; sides and rump 

 lighter fading to yellowish-white; nose, ears, sides of 

 head, throat and under surface of neck, belly and under 

 surface of tail white; chest between fore legs brown- 

 ish ; a broad black patch on forehead inclosing eyes 

 and reaching tip of nose; legs to shoulders and to hips 

 brownish black; terminal two inches of tail black. 



Measurements. — Length, male, 19 inches ; tail, 4 

 inches ; hind foot, 2' 1> inches. Female, length, 18 inches. 



Range. — Great Plains from western North Dakota 

 and northern Montana south to Texas. 



Food. — Small mammals, but principally Prairie Dogs 

 and probably a few small birds. 



The Black-footed Ferret is a true Weasel, but 

 differs frotn the other members enough to be 

 placed in a group by itself. Its characteristic 

 markings, the bright yellowish tone of the upper 

 parts, the black across the face and the black 

 feet, together with its large size, are sufficient 

 to enable it to be instantly separated from any 

 of its kindred. It does not change color in win- 

 ter. There is but the one species known, a 



pretty little animal living out in the Western 

 States in the Rocky Mountain country. 



In 1849 it was described and pictured by Au- 

 dubon and Bachman, but soon afterward natur- 

 alists seemed to lose sight of it. for little more 

 was heard of it for thirty or forty years. 



Locally it is known as the Prairie Dog Hunter, 

 or Prairie Dog Ferret, as it seems especially 

 fond of that fat little beast — much, however. 



