7o CARNIVORES. 



animal, with the exception of the skunk, possesses such a powerful, penetrating, 

 and lasting effluvium. 



All who have hunted the mink bear witness to its extraordinary tenacity of 

 life, the writer last quoted stating that he has known several instances of these 

 animals being found alive after having lain for fully four-and-twenty hours with 

 their bodies crushed flat beneath a heavy log. The countenance of the mink is 

 described as at all times far from prepossessing ; but when caught alive in a steel- 

 trap these animals are said to have an expression almost diabolical. 



Some years ago the fur of the mink was but little esteemed, and 



the price was at one time said to be so low as not to repay the cost of 

 transport. Recently mink fur has, however, been more appreciated, and the animal 

 has consequently been more vigorously trapped, with the result that in some districts 

 there has been a considerable reduction in its numbers. In 1865 the value of a 

 good mink skin was reported to have reached five dollars; and at that date 

 upwards of 6000 of these skins were annually exported from Nova Scotia alone. 

 It is stated that while for two decades the total number of European mink skins 

 averaged 55,000, the exports of American mink reached 160,000 ; but in the year 

 1888 the number of American was upwards of 370,000. At the latter date the value 

 of Russian mink varied from about one to four shillings per skin, while American 

 skins fetched from four to ten shillings. Much higher prices were, however, 

 current a few years previously. American mink always obtains higher prices than 

 Russian, the best skins coming from Alaska and New England. 



The Siberian mink is a little-known species inhabiting the 



districts to the eastwards of the Yenesei River, but unknown in 

 Siberia. It is more like a polecat in general appearance, having similar dark and 

 light markings on the head and face. The colour is a clear rich tawny or fulvous 

 brown, as dark below as above. 



The South-African Weasel. 



Genus Poecilogale. 



The pretty little South-African weasel (Poecilogale albinucha) is worthy of a 

 separate heading, not only on account of its remarkable coloration, but also as 

 being, with the exception of one species belonging to the typical genus Mustela, 

 the sole representative of the weasels in Africa south of the Sahara. This species 

 is distinguished from all the other weasels by having the ground-colour of the fur 

 black, with the upper part of the head and neck white, and four pale brownish 

 white stripes running along the back ; the tapering tail being white. This peculiar 

 coloration is almost precisely similar to that of the so-called Cape polecat, to be 

 mentioned later on ; and it may be that we have here another instance of true 

 mimicry among mammals. In addition to its coloration, the species is also dis- 

 tinguished by having but two pairs of premolar teeth in each jaw, while very 

 generally there is but a single pair of molar teeth in the lower jaw ; and it is on 

 these differences in the number of teeth that zoologists chiefly rely in referring this 

 weasel to a distinct genus. 



