118 BULLETIN NO. VII. 
Putorius vison BRISSON. 
MINK. 
(PLATE XVIIL.) 
Mustela vison, Earlier writers. 
Lutra vison SHAW. 
Putorius vison, Modern writers. 
Mustela lutreola FORSTER, SABINE, etc. 
Vison lutreola GRAY. 
Mustela canadensis ERXLEBEN, etc. 
Mustela winingus BARTON. 
Mustela minx TURTON. 
Mustela lutreocephala HARLAN. 
In size and external appearance the mink approaches the 
martens. The tail is bushy rather than cylindrical, but the 
head is triangular and flat like the weasels. The ear is very 
small. The fur is composed of a soft, dense under fur inter- 
mingled with long stiff shining hairs. The color is brown of 
various shades, from dark chocolate to yellowish. A broad 
dorsal area is darkest. The chin is white, and there may be 
other blotches of white on the under parts which are otherwise 
little lighter than the upper surface. As indicating the aquatic 
habit, the toes are webbed at the bases. The mink is distrib- 
uted over N. America everywhere in suitable locations. Our 
species differs from the European P. lutreola in a few insignifi- 
cant osteological points only. 
Coincidentally with the aquatic habitat, the food of the 
Mink is somewhat modified, in comparison with that of the 
land species of the genus. It is probably our only species 
which feeds habitually upon reptiles, fish, molluscs, and crusta- 
ceans—more particularly upon frogs, fresh-water bivalves, 
crawfish, and the like. Nevertheless, it is not confined to 
such diet, but shows its relationships with the terrestrial Wea- 
sels in a wide range of the same articles of diet as the latter 
secure. Itis said to prey upon Muskrats—a statement I have 
no hesitation in believing, though I cannot personally attest it. 
A recent writer,* in an article which I would quote were it 
written in a style suited to the present connection, narrates an 
incident which may be here briefly related, as showing that 
the Mink is a formidable enemy of the Muskrat, though yield- 
ing to the latter in weight. Whilst snipe-hunting on a marshy 
island below the Kickapoo Rapids of the Illinois River, the 
*M, A. Howell, jr. “The trapper not the only enemy of the Muskrat.’—Forest and 
Stream of Dec. 21, 1876. 
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