THE MARTENS, POLECATS, AND WEASELS 655 



experienced, at the periods of renewal of the coat, the new hairs will come out of the 

 opposite color ; if not, they will appear of the same color, and afterward change ; 

 that is, the change may or may not be coincident with the shedding." 



Dr. Coues attributed the reason of the color-change entirely to the effects of 

 temperature ; but strong objection is taken to this view by Dr. Hart Merriam, who 

 observes that it occurs in captive specimens kept continually in warm rooms. Dr. 

 Merriam relies, however, chiefly upon the circumstance observed by himself and 

 others that among the stoats of the Adirondack mountains the winter change never 

 takes place till after the first fall of snow, which generally occurs toward the end 

 of October or the beginning of November. Although the temperature of the air 

 may be much lower before than subsequent to this first snowfall, yet it is true 

 ' ' that ermine caught up to the very day of the first appearance of snow bear no evi- 

 dence of the impending change. Within forty-eight hours, however, after the 

 occurrence of the snowstorm the coat of the ermine has already commenced to 

 assume a pied and mottled appearance, and the change now commenced progresses 

 to its termination with great rapidity. In early spring, the period for the reversal 

 of this process, the changing back from the white coat of winter to the brown sum- 

 mer coat is determined by the same cause the presence or absence of snow. ' ' 

 These arguments appear conclusive that the change is really due to the necessity of 

 the color of the animal being adapted to its external surroundings ; the change in 

 captivity being due to the influence of hereditary habits, which cannot be over- 

 come in the short period during which the animals are under observation. 



In habits the stoat is in general very similar to the weasel, although 

 from its larger size and greater strength it more commonly attacks 

 larger animals, such as hares, rabbits, and poultry, than its smaller relatives. In 

 America it is very fond of the ruffed grouse, and will often overcome the large 

 northern hare; while its destruction of poultry is proved by a statement of Audubon 

 to the effect that one has been known in a single night to slay upwards of forty 

 well-grown fowls. When food is abundant it is stated that the stoat only sucks the 

 blood or eats the brains of its victims, leaving the flesh untouched. The late Rich- 

 ard Jefferies states that these animals usually hunt in couples, although occasionally 

 three may be seen together; and that their range of destruction seems only to be 

 limited by their strength. 



The stoat hunts its prey both by day and by night, and is fully as good a 

 climber as the weasel. Although it cannot in any way be considered an aquatic 

 animal, there is good evidence to show that it is an excellent swimmer, and will, 

 when occasion arises, take readily to the water. Its favorite haunts appear to be 

 stony places and thickets, which secure it a safe refuge from its foes; and it is also 

 very partial to patches of impenetrable gorse, while it will sometimes take up its 

 abode in a deserted rabbit burrow. In spite of its destructiveness to poultry and 

 game of all kinds there can be no doubt that from the number of rats, mice, and 

 voles it consumes, the stoat is a benefactor to the farmer; and it is a remarkable 

 fact that, whenever unusual numbers of any of the Rodents above mentioned have 

 appeared in any district, they have almost invariably been followed by a large 

 assemblage of stoats and weasels who wage war upon them. It is almost superfluous 



