426 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



Family of Little Fur Bearers 

 Mustelidse 



(Number of North American Species, TwenU^ to Thirty) 



A large family of small and medium sized fur bearers, 

 of great commercial value. Grouped according to tlieir teeth 

 and claws. 



American Otter Lufra canadensis. 



Length of body, 2^ feet ; tail, 1| feet. 



Broad, flat head ; close, short fur ; long tail ; round feet, 

 with webbed toes and small, blunt claws. Aquatic and fish- 

 eating. ^ 



* * 



Common Skunk Mephitis mephitica. 



Length of body, 1| feet ; tail, 13 inches. 



Little Striped Skunk Spilogale putorius. 



Length of body, li feet ; tail, Ih inches. 



Small head; small, round ears; long, plumy tail; body 

 long, covered with black and white fur of good quality. 

 Burrowing animals, living on mixed food. They secrete an 

 offensive odor, which they use as a weapon of defence. 



* * 



American Sable, or Pine Marten . . . Mustela americana. 

 Length of body, li feet ; tail, 10 inches. 



Fisher Mustela pennanti. 



Length of body, 2 feet ; tail, 14 inches. 



Living among the trees of rocky woods. Savage animals 

 for their size; agile climbers; great destroyers of small 

 gnawers. Fur soft and beautiful. 



*** 

 Weasel, or Ermine Putorius noveboracensis. 



l^eiigth of body, 11 inches; tail, 7 inches. 



Mink Putorius vison. 



Length of body, \\ feet; tail, 9 inches. 



