Family MUSTELIDAE 101 



prints of the front feet trailing. Each footprint is oval and, 

 unlike the mink footprint, it rarely shows toe marks. Unlike 

 the tracks of the least weasel, its tracks may be accompanied 

 at times by tail marks. Each footprint is larger than that of 

 the least weasel. 



Droppings of the long-tailed weasel may be found along 

 fences or near its den. They usually contain insect parts, fur 

 of mice, and bird feathers. 



Distribution. — The long-tailed weasel occurs the length and 

 breadth of Illinois. In this state is the subspecies Alustela fre- 

 nata noveboracensis (Emmons). The range of the species ex- 

 tends from southern Quebec to central British Columbia and 

 into Central America. Records are lacking for Lower Cali- 

 fornia and some desert regions of Arizona and California. 



MUSTELA ERMINEA Linnaeus 

 Short-Tailed Weasel 



To date there are no Illinois records of the short-tailed 

 weasel, but since this species is known to occur at Beaver Dam, 

 Wisconsin, only 70 miles north of the Illinois-Wisconsin line, 

 there is some possibility that it may eventually be found in the 

 counties of extreme northern Illinois. 



The short-tailed weasel is similar to the long-tailed weasel 

 in size and general appearance; it differs in that summer speci- 

 mens have white feet. White specimens of the two species are 

 difficult to separate but usually differ in tail length (see key to 

 the Carnivora). 



MUSTELA VISON Schreber 

 Mink 



Description. — The mink, fig. 65, is weasel-like in build and 

 is sometimes referred to as a water-weasel. Its color is dark 

 brown, except for black at the tip of the tail, white on the chin, 

 and occasionally white spots on the throat and chest. Its ears 

 are short and hardly discernible in the fur. The thickly haired 

 tail is about two-fifths as long as the head and body. The male 

 is larger than the female. 



Length measurements: adult male, head and body 13i/2-15^ 

 inches (345-400 mm.), tail 7i4-8j4 inches (185-210 mm.). 



