MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 107 
“This species is circumpolar and is equally distributed in the 
New and Old World. In general it does not approach the poles 
as nearly as the ermine, but extends rather farther south. 
This species seems to have been domesticated as a mouser in 
Greece prior to the introduction of cats. 
This species differs from the ermine in its smaller size. The 
length varies, eight inches being the maximum length of body, 
the tail about two anda half. The tail is almost always with- 
out the black terminal portion so characteristic of the larger 
species. The northern specimens turn white in winter, but in 
southern Minnesota probably not. But a single specimen was 
collected during the survey, and the notes upon this are in- 
complete. 

Fig. 8. A. Putorius erminea (Ermine or White Weasel). 
B. Putorius vulgaris (common Weasel). 
Although only relatively rare it is far from well known. Its 
food is mice, insects, eggs and young birds. It is said toclimb 
readily in search of nests. When a mouse is introduced into 
the cage containing a weasel, says Bell: ‘‘It instantly issued 
from its box, and in a moment, one single bite on the head 
pierced the brain, and laid the mouse dead without a struggle 
