FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



of dark brown hairs on crown and back; underparts buffy 

 or cream-colored; hands and feet blackish; a broad black 

 band across eyes like a mask; tail short, colored like body, 

 except for short blackish tip. Total length, males, 23, 

 inches; tail vertebrae, 5.3 inches; hind foot, 2.4 inches. 

 Female slightly smaller. Found on "Great Plains, from 

 western North Dakota and northern Montana to Texas; 

 not known west of eastern base of Rocky Mountains." 

 (Miller.) 



Weasels are widely distributed over both the Eastern and 

 Western Hemispheres, but the group is essentially a northern 

 one and the greatest number of species is found north of the 

 equator. Throughout North America north of the Rio Grande 

 there are no fewer than 36 species and subspecies of this active 

 little carnivore, and it would appear as if nature had evolved a 

 special type of Weasel to fit each economic niche. 



There ar^ small Weasels, such as rixosa, which feed on 

 Meadow Mice and very small rodents, the larger Weasels, 

 such as arctica which prey on Hares, and Weasels such as 

 novehoracensis and arizonensis which hunt a variety of game 

 and are equipped to gain a living from a great many different 

 sources. The largest of our Weasels, the Black-footed Ferret, 

 preys upon Prairie-dogs. 



Weasels are highly carnivorous and predatory, representing 

 an extreme development along these lines. They are intensely 

 active and alert, about at all seasons of the year and may be 

 seen at any hour of the day. They are probably most active 

 at night, however, and rest much of the day. In the regions 

 where winters are cold and long the Weasels turn white, but 

 in the southern parts of their range they maintain the yellow 

 or brown summer pelage throughout the year, only slightly 

 different in winter, due to wear and molt. In the winter coat, 

 any of the Weasels may be called Ermine, but arctica is most 

 nearly related to the true Ermine of the Old World. 



Weasels are essentially terrestrial, although they have been 

 known to climb trees, and seem to be sure of themselves above 

 the ground; they habitually hunt on the ground or in the 

 burrows under the ground. Possessed of good powers of 

 smell, sight, and hearing, they are tireless hunters and are 

 so remarkably successful that one wonders how small mam- 

 mals and ground -nesting birds are able to maintain themselves 



106 



