THE MARTENS, POLECATS, AND WEASELS 



657 



Mink 



The animal represented in the accompanying illustration forms 

 one of a group of three species of comparatively-large size, whose 

 nearest allies are the polecats. The European representative of this group 

 (M. lutreola], is generally known on the Continent as the nertz, or sumpf-otter 

 (marsh otter) , and has no recognized English title, although the name of European 

 mink has been suggested for it, and is adopted in this work. The second species is 

 the true mink (M. visori) of North America ; while the third is the Siberian mink 

 (M. sibirica), which is stated to connect the other two with the polecats. 



These three are distinguished from the other members of the genus, not only 

 by their semiaquatic habits, but by certain structural peculiarities. While agree- 

 ing with the polecats in the number of their teeth, the minks differ from them, as 



THE EUROPEAN MINK. 

 (One-third natural size.) 



well as from the weasels, by the narrower muzzle to their skulls, being thus more 

 like the martens. The premolar teeth are relatively larger than in their nearest 

 allies ; while a more important point of distinction is afforded by the partial web- 

 bing of the toes, which are also peculiar in possessing no long hair between their 

 naked pads. 



The European and North- American minks are such closely-allied animals that 

 they cannot be even distinguished from one another externally ; and in our 

 own opinion it would be better to regard them as mere local varieties of a single 

 species. The European mink has, however, very generally a white upper lip, 

 which is but rarely exhibited in its American relative. When the skulls of the two 

 forms are compared together it will be found that in the American form the upper 



molar tooth is invariably decidedly larger than in the European ; and it is on 

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