102 



Order CARNIVORA 



over-all 21-24 inches (530-610 mm.), hind foot 2i/^-2^ inches 

 (55-70 mm.); adult female, head and body 11 1/^-13^ inches 

 (290-340 mm.), tail 5l/4-7i/' Inches (135-190 m^m.), over-all 

 16^.t-21 inches (425-530 mm.), hind foot 2-21/1 inches (53-62 

 mm.). 



The skull, fig. 61tf, of the mink is similar to but larger than 

 that of the largest weasel and has a more pronounced median 

 dorsal ridge and more flattened auditory bullae. It differs from 

 that of the skunk in that the shelf of the bony palate extends well 

 back of the last molar, and the last upper molar is dumbbell 

 shaped. The skull of the male is 60-70 mm. (about 2^ inches) 

 long, of the female 55-63 mm. {2]/s-2^/i inches). Dental for- 

 mula: I 3/3, C 1/1, Pm 3/3, M 1/2. 



Life History. — The mink is at home on land or in water. 

 It may dig a burrow for itself, or, more likely, it may take over 

 a muskrat den in a lake or a muskrat burrow in the side of a 



Fig. 65. — Mink. 



