122 LLOVDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



IV. THE WEASEL. MUSTELA VULGARIS. 



Mustcia vulgaris, Erxleben, Syst. Reg. Animale p. 471 (1777); 



Bell, British Quadrupeds 2nd ed. p. 182 (1874). 

 Foetorius vulgaris, Keyserling and Blasius, Wirbelthiere 



Europ. p. 69 (1840). 

 Putorins vulgaris, Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. i. p. 



145 (1829). 



{Plate XIV.) 



Characters. — Smaller than the last species, from which it is 

 readily distinguished by the absence of a black tip to the re- 

 latively shorter tail ; no seasonal change of colour.* Average 

 length of head and body of male about Zy^ inches ; of tail, 2^ 

 inches ; the corresponding dimensions in the female being 

 about 7 and 2 inches. 



To describe in detail the form and general coloration of 

 the Weasel would be but to repeat the statements given under 

 the heading of the Stoat, although the Weasel is a redder ani- 

 mal than the latter. 



Distribution. — Having, like the Stoat, a circum-polar distribu- 

 tion, tlie Weasel, although common throughout England, 

 Wales, and Scotland, appears to be unknown in Ireland, 

 where, however, the first-mentioned animal has usurped its 

 name. It is true that in the Zoologist for 1877 the occur- 

 rence of the Weasel in county Mayo is reported; but even if 

 the animal seen were rightly identified, it is possible that it may 

 have been introduced. In the north of Scotland, Messrs. 

 Harvie-Brown and Buckley state that Weasels are common on 

 the mainland ; *• and there is not much reason to believe that 

 their numbers have sensibly decreased, though kept, no doubt, 



* Mr. de Winton writes to me :- " The Weasel is paler in colour in 

 winter. I believe that none of the MiistelidiC shed their hair in autumn. 

 The white dress is assumed by a change of pigment, as well as by an 

 accession of white hairs." 



