THE WEASEL. 359 
her house, when he was surprised by the savage conduct of the Ferret, which boldly 
advanced from a spot where it had hidden itself, and, as if roused to fury by the infant’s 
cries, attempted to renew its sanguinary repast. It was met by a sharp kick, but undauntedly 
attacked the foot that dealt the blow, and attempted to run up the leg. Not until its back 
was broken by repeated kicks did the Ferret cease from its furious efforts; and 
even when struggling in death, it seemed to be powerfully excited by the child’s cries. 
As the poor child had been heard by the neighbours to scream for more than half an 
hour before the return of its mother, it is probable that the savage creature had 
been employed for that time upon its sanguinary feast. The extraordinary boldness and 
ferocity of the Ferret are the more remarkable because it had been cited as a peculiarly 
shy animal. 
On account of its water-loving propensities, the Mink is called by various names 
that bear relation to water. By some persons it is called the Smaller Otter, or sometimes 
the Musk Otter, while it is known to others under the title of the Water-Polecat. 
It also goes by the name of the NUREK VISON. 
The Mink is spread over a very large extent of country, being found in the most 
northern parts of Europe, and also in North America. Its fur is usually brown, 
with some white about the jaws, 
but seems to be subject to consi- 
derable variations of tinting. Some 
specimens are of a much paler 
brown than others ; in some indi- 
viduals the fur is nearly black about 
the head, while the white patch 
that is found on the chin is ex- 
tremely variable in dimensions. 
The size, too, is rather variable. 
It frequents the banks of ponds, 
rivers, and marshes, seeming to pre- 
fer the stillest waters in the autumn, 
and the rapidly flowing currents in 
spring. As may be supposed from 
the nature of its haunts, its food 
consists almost wholly of fish, frogs, 
crawfish, aquatic insects, and other 
creatures that are to be found either 
in the waters or in their close vici- 
nity. The general shape of its body 
is not quite the same as that of the 
marten or ferret ; and assumes something of the otter aspect. The teeth, however, are 
nearer those of the polecat than of the otter; and its tail, although not so fully charged 
with hair as the corresponding member in the polecat, is devoid of that muscular power 
and tapering form which is so strongly characteristic of the otter. The feet are well 
adapted for swimming, on account of a slight webbing between the toes. 
The fur of this animal is excellent in quality, and is by many persons valued 
very highly. By the furriers it passes under the name of “Meenk,” and it is known 
by two other names, “Tutucuri” and “Neers.” As it bears a great resemblance to the 
fur of the sable, it is often fraudulently substituted for that article——a deception which is 
the more to be regretted, as the fur of the Mink is a really excellent one, handsome in its 
appearance, and extremely warm in character. By some authors, the identity of the 
Mink with the water-polecat has been doubted, but, as it appears, without sufficient reason. 
MINK.—Vison Lutréola, 
THERE is hardly any animal which, for its size, is so much to be dreaded by 
the creatures on which it preys as the common WeasEL. Although its diminutive 
proportions render a single Weasel an insignificant opponent to man or dog, yet it 
