510 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



tains in the northern counties a few are still living, but in no 

 appreciable numbers. Frequent water-courses, feeding largely 

 upon fish. Seldom approach farm-houses, or attack poultry." 



PUTORIUS, Cuv. 



P. erinineus, Cuv. {noveboracends.) Weasel. Ermine. 



Color various ; tip of tail usually black ; white in winter. 

 Length, 8 to 11 inches. 



" Common. Known throughout the State and about equally 

 abundant in the several counties, but still is nowhere actually 

 numerous. Frequent timbered lands principally, but frequently 

 met with in the open meadows, and when so found is a useful 

 animal, as it now lives wholly on meadow mice. Weasels litter 

 but once in the summer, usually May, producing generally five 

 at a birth. Were it not for its ugly habit of raiding on poultry 

 roosts and doing so much damage, the weasel could not be com- 

 plained of, but under the circumstances merits the wrath of the 

 farmer." 



P. vison, Gap. Mink. 



Brownish chestnut; tail black; length of body, 15 to 20 

 inches. 



" Common. Probably equally abundant throughout the State, 

 and in some localities is more numerous. Frequents meadow 

 lands and the banks of streams principally, although frequently 

 found in high, dry timber land. Minks litter but once during 

 the summer, generally about the middle of June. 



" If birds, meadow mice and ' chipmunks ' are at all abund- 

 ant in any neighborhood where minks are common, then the 

 poultry is in a great measure free from their attacks ; and only 

 in midwinter do they ever do serious damage. In condemning 

 them for their sins, so far as poultry is concerned, it may be as 

 well to give them credit for the good they do — as valuable they 

 really are, in the destruction of meadow mice." 



LUTRA, L. 

 Li. canadensis, Sab. Otter. 



Color, liver brown ; length, 4| feet. 



