ss REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND MAMMALOGIST. 433 
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-. two have been killed by Weasels, so far as I know. During the past three years 
---—s- weasels have been abundant—more so, I think, than ever before—and all kinds of 
mice, particularly field mice (Arvicole) have been unusually scarce. 
YELLOW-BELLIED WEASEL (Putorius longicauda). 
Dakota.—Fort Sisseton, Marshall County, June, 1887: Caught one.. It had eaten 
a large Pocket Gopher ail but the head (the gopher was in a trap) and when it came 
back it took the gopher’s place. Pembina, July, 1887: Said tobecommon. Devil's 
Lake, Ramsey County, August, 1887: Seems common. Caught two in the holes of 
Pocket gophers (7. talpoides), and think these gophers form a large part of their 
prey. Their holes are so slightly filled with dirt that the weasel can dig in without 
trouble. Bottineau, on western, edge of Turtle Mountain, August, 1887: Saw one 
running over the prairie about 9 o'clock in the morning; went into the hole of 
Richardson’s Spermophile. Rapid City, on eastern edge of Black Hills, November, 
- 1887: Have seen a few tracks along creeks, and think they are quite common. 
Caught one in a trap baited with a prairie dog, and set by creek bank. It is justchang- 
ing from the brown coat to the white, and is a little more than half white. The 
change is wholly dueto the moult. The brown hairs come out very easily ; the white 
hairs are firm. Many of the brown hairs fell out while skinning the animal. There 
is no snow on the ground now (November 12), but there was from October 22 to 
October 28, and a little flurry November 8 that remained but a few hours. The 
_ weather is steadily clear, warm days, and freezing nights. The mercury changes 
from about 28° to 70° F. every twenty-four hours. 
Mink (Lutreola vison). 
Minnesota.—Elik River, Sherburne County, 1887: Rather common and. much 
trapped for fur. In the fall of 1885 onefof my neighbors had 18 full-grown chickens 
killed in two successive nights. Iset traps in his barn and caught 2 large Minks 
that night. Heron Lake, Jackson County, May, 1887: Saw tracks. Ortonville, 
Big Stone County, June, 1887: Saw some tracks. Brown’s Valley, Traverse 
County, June and July, 1887: Seem to be common. : 
Dakota.—Fort Sisseton, June, 1887: Present. Harwood, Cass County, July, 
1887: Said to be numerous. Grand Forks, July, 1887: Said to occur. Pembina, 
July and August, 1887: Said to'be common. Devil's Lake, Ramsey County, Au- 
> gust, 1887: Common. Turtle Mountain, August, 1887: Said to be common. Black 
| Hills, November, 1887: Said to occur. 
SKUNK (Mephitis mephitiea). 
Minnesota.—Elk River, Sherburne County, November, 1887: Abundant. T be- 
believe Skunks to be beneficial because they feed almost entirely on insects. Heron 
ake, Jackson County, May, 1887: Saw one dead. Ortonville, Big Stone County, 
June, 1887: Seemtobecommon. Brown’s Valley, Traverse County, June and J uly, 
1887: Common. 
Dakota.—Fort Sisseton, J une, 1887: Common; young half grown. Pembina, July 
_and August, 1887: Common.  Flandreau, Moody County, May, 1887: Common. 
Devil's Lake, Ramsey County, August, 1887: Common. Turtle Mountain, August, 
1887: Said to be commen. Fort Buford, September, 1887: Common. Rapid City 
(eastern edge of Black Hills), November, 1887: Caught one in a trap baited with 2 
Prairie Dog; have seen a few holes, but they seem rather scarce. 
Montana.—Tilyou’s Ranch, Dawson County, September and October, 1887: Com- 
mon; feed on grasshoppers and bull-berries. 
BADGER (Taxidea americana). 
Minnesota.—Elk River, Sherburne County, 1887: Tolerably common. Heron 
Lake, Jackson County, May, 1887: Found some holes. 
Dakota.—Fort Sisseton, June, 1887: Their holes are everywhere. I believe Badg- 
ers have caused the scarcity of small mammals here, as the places where they have 
dug out Mice and Gopher holes are numerous. I counted forty-five places where 
one had dug into a Pocket Gopher’s hole, and in another locality fifty-eight places. 
They dig a small hole down until they strike the Gopher’s tunnel, and continue the 
same process at frequent intervals until the tunnel is ail cut up. Harwood, Cass 
County, July, 1887: Said to be common; saw a few holes. Grand Forks, duly, 
yt. AG 87 28 
