FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



south to the Sierra Nevada Mountains m California and 

 Rocky Mountains in New Mexico. ' (Holhster) 

 Calif orma Lowland Mink.— Mustela vtson cBstuanna Grinnell. 

 ResembUng energumenos but smaller ; separated from 

 7n:r^menl chiefly on the basis of c^--^?^aracte^^^^^^^^^ 

 paler and pelage not so heavy. Found m The lowlands ot 

 west-central California, particularly the delta region at the 

 Confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaqum rivers; west 

 S Petaluma and Marin Counties. No mmks are known to 

 occufon Sfe south side of Golden Gate and San Francisco 

 Bay." (Grinnell) 

 Island Mivik.—Mustela vison nesolestes (Heller). 



''sSe intermediate between ingens and energumenos- colors 

 rather dark'' (Hollister) Color Vandyke brown, lighter 

 on cheeks and sides, darker on tail; underparts walnut- 

 brown white on chin and irregular white spots or areas on 

 throat' clest inner arm, and abdomen. Total length, males, 

 ^4 s^nche?; tail vertebra 7-3 inches; ^ind, foot 3-2^^^^^^^^ 

 Found in "Alexander Archipelago, A aska_ (Hollister) 

 Kenai Mink.— Mw5/e/a vison melampeplus (iilhot). 



Darker than energumenos. Color dark chocolate without 

 any reddish Unge; underparts slightly paler than upperparts; 

 wWte spot on 'chin and sometimes throat. Total length 

 males 28 inches; tail vertebrae, 7-2 inches; hind foot, 

 ^fnches Found in "Kenai Peninsula and Cook Inlet region, 

 Alaska " (Hollister) . . .^ .v 



Alaska Mink Big mnk.—Mustela vison ingens (Osgood). 

 Larle^ of existing American Minks; re^emhXmz energumenos 

 Sgh?er in cofor. Total length, males, 28.8 mches; ta,^ 

 vertebrae 7.2 inches; hind foot, 3.0 inches. Found m 

 "Northern western, knd central Alaska; northern Yukon 

 and nortS;estem Mackenzie; south to the Alaska Peninsula 

 and to Fort Good Hope, Mackenzie; east to Anderson 

 River." (Holhster) 



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The Mink is merely a large Weasel of somewhat specialized 



habits and shows this relationship rather clearly m its general 



structure It differs from the other Weasels m slightly more 



robust build, uniformly darker coloration, and semiaquatic 



^""tS mammal has a wide range, but prefers the vicinity of 

 streams or standing water. It is found in the forests or out 

 on the plains where it follows the water- courses. The den 

 may be in a burrow in a bank, under logs, m rocks, or m 



anv similar nook. _ ^ 1, x 



Much of the food of the Mink is caught m the water, but 



this animal is not so specialized for an aquatic existence as the 



no 



