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half females. If taken iu hand when their eyes are first open, 

 they are readily tamed ; they should not subsequently be al- 

 lowed to remain with the mother or in each others' society. By 

 continual petting and handling, they become like domestic rat- 

 ters, and have all the playfulness of the young of the feline 

 tribe. They may be handled, without fear of their sharp teeth, 

 but they prove extremely mischievous, their scent leading them 

 to food not intended for them. Their fondness for bathing will 

 prompt them to enter a tea-kettle or any open vessel; and when 

 wetted they will roll and dry themselves in a basket of clothes 

 fresh from the laundry, or even upon a lady's dress, occasion- 

 ing much inconvenience. 



Minks are not burrowing animals in a state of nature, but 

 freely avail themselves of the holes of Muskrats and other ver- 

 min. They cannot climb a smooth surface, but ascend readily 

 where there is roughness enough for a nail-hold. The grown 

 male will weigh about two pounds; the female is heavier than 

 she looks, averaging between one and a half and one and three- 

 fourths pounds. These tame Minks make excellent ratters, 

 hunt vigorously, and soon exterminate the troublesome pests. 

 Eats will make off on scenting them ; they are so bewildered 

 in flight that they give no battle, but yield at once ; and the 

 Mink severs the main vessels of the neck so quickly and skil- 

 fully that an observer would scarcely imagine the deed had 

 been done. 



When wild Minks are confined with the tame ones, the latter 

 always prove stronger than the former, and come off victorious 

 in the contests that ensue. They have been observed to beat 

 off a cat that imprudently invaded the minkery in quest of food. 

 So completely domesticated are the animals that a person may 

 enter the iuclosure with impunity, and observe the animals 

 playing about him like kittens. 



Mr. Kesseque states that he finds ready sale for his Minks — 

 in fact, that he cannot supply the demand. His prices are $30 

 per pair— $20 for a female, $10 for a male, and 825 for an im- 

 pregnated female. It is to be hoped that this novel branch of 

 industry will be perpetuated and extended. There are plenty 

 of Minks in this country, the services of which are available 

 without difficulty for the purpose of destroying vermin, and in 

 the aggregate their good services would have a very decidedly 

 appreciable result. They have a great advantage over terrier 

 dogs in being able to enter any ordinary rat-hole and drive their 

 prey from its hidden resorts. 



