MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 125 
running water, from which the Mink catch living fish, that are 
often furnished, with the greatest delight. 
‘The building is constructed by an alley three feet wide 
around its cireumference. Within are two rows of cells four 
feet deep and two and a half wide, each having a door venti- 
lated at the top and bottom with wire screens, as is also the front 
entrance, what the proprietors call the anteroom, four by four 
feet, which must be fastened within every time the building is © 
entered, to prevent the escape of the imprisoned animals. On 
entering the main hall, which the Minks have access to (when 
not rearing their young), they present a very playful group. 
‘« «The person feeding them is often mounted, for their food 
and their tenacity of hold is so strong that they may be drawn 
about or lifted without releasing their hold upon the food. The 
nest of the female is very peculiarly constructed with grass, 
leaves, or straw, with a lining of her own fur so firmly com- 
pacted together as to be with difficulty torn in pieces. The 
aperture leading to the nest is a round opening, just sufficient 
to admit the dam, and is provided with a deflected curtain, 
which covers the entrance and effectually-secures her against 
all invasion when she is within. About the middle of March 
the females are separated from the males until the young are 
reared. The necessity for this arises from the fact that the 
males seem inclined to brood the young almost as much as the 
dam, when both are permitted to remain together. 
_***The expense of feeding these animals is almost nominal, 
being supplied pretty much entirely from the usual offal of a 
farm yard, with occasional woodchucks and game in general. 
They eat this food with equal avidity after decomposition has 
taken place, devouring every particle of flesh, cartilage, and the 
bones. The flesh and bones entire of the woodchuck are con- 
sumed often at a single meal. While the expense of keeping 
is thus trivial, the profitable yield of the animal is compara- 
tively immense, it being considered a moderate estimate or 
claim that the Mink with her increase will equal the avails of a 
cow.” 
We find in Audubon and Bachman several paragraphs upon 
the same subject, which will be transcribed:—‘‘The Mink, when 
taken young, becomes very gentle, and forms a strong attach- 
ment (?) to those who fondle it in a state of domestication. 
Richardson saw one in the possession of a Canadian woman, 
that passed the day in her pocket, looking out occasionally 
when its attention was roused by any unusual noise. We had 
