THE ERMINE. 297 



and hence the most valuable specimens come from Siberia, whence about 

 400,000 pelts are annually sent to market. 



The New York Ermine, Putoriiis Noveboracensis, is called also the 

 White, and the Common Weasel. It is found as far south as Pennsylvania. 

 It differs from the European Ermine, the tail not being so long, but the 

 hair very long and bushy. It does not change the color of its coat in 

 winter. 



Kane's Ermine, Putorius Kaneii, was so named by Baird in honor of 

 the Arctic explorer, Dr. Kane. Its length to the tail is about eight 

 inches, the tail vertebras about one-sixth of this length. In summer it is 

 brown, in winter, white. It is smaller than the European Ermine, but 

 has a longer tail, and the black color in place of occupying two-thirds, 

 takes up only one-half of that appendage. 



The Little Nimble Weasel, Putorius agilis, is light, slender, and 

 graceful ; it is smaller than the Ermine, but stands higher in proportion, 

 and has more prominent ears. In summer the color of the fur on the 

 upper portion is light-brown, on the belly and throat white ; in winter, 

 the whole body is pure white, except an inch and three-quarters of black 

 at the tip of the tail. The specimen described by Audubon was obtained 

 in the northern part of New York ; its burrow was situated on a 

 high ridge of pine-land, and had a very narrow entranct. It feeds 

 upon the meadow mouse, the little chipping squirrel, and other small 

 animals. 



The Tawny Weasel, Putorius fuscus, is more robust than the Euro- 

 pean Weasel, and is of a uniform tawny brown color. It does not 

 change color in winter. It is found in the States of New York, Ohio, 

 and Michigan. 



The Mink, Putorius vison, is of a brown color, with some white 

 about the jaws ; but both the color and the size vary considerably. It 

 lives by the banks of ponds or marshes, and its food is chiefly aquatic. 

 In shape it assumes something of the Otter aspect. Its fur is excellent 

 in quality, and as it bears a great resemblance to the sable, it is often 

 substituted for that article. 



The Small Weasel, Putorius pusillus, is the smallest of our native 

 species ; it has a very short tail, without the black tip common to other 

 species. It is very like the common weasel, but smaller. 



The Yellow-Cheeked Weasel, Piitorius xanthogcnys, is found only 

 in California ; it derives its specific name from three yellow patches on 

 38 



