659 



r"' 



teristic of the stoat. In hunting, the mink has often been observed to pursue its 

 prey entirely by scent ; and it may be observed on its hunting expeditions both by 

 night and by day. 



As a rule, minks appear to be comparatively solitary animals, but Dr. Merriam 

 mentions having once seen three in company. The abode of the mink is usually a 

 hole in the bank of a stream or lake; and a well-trodden path always leads from the 

 entrance of the burrow down to the water. From such abiding places it appears that 

 the animal will not only make daily excursions for the sake of procuring food, but 

 also wander into neighboring districts, from which it .sometimes does not return till 

 after the lapse of a week or two. 



The nests of the mink are situated either in the above-mentioned holes, or in 

 hollow logs, and are generally well lined with feathers and other soft substances. 

 The usual number of young in a litter is from four to six ; and in the Adirondack 

 region of New York these are born early in May, and remain with the female until 

 the following autumn. In America minks have been extensively bred in a semi- 

 domesticated state, for the purpose of being used as ferrets; and in this condition it 

 appears that the number of young in a litter may vary from three to as many as ten. 

 The scent characteristic of all the members of the weasel group is extraordinarily 

 developed in the mink, Dr. Coues observing that in America no 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 ani- 

 mals 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 

 Fur 



price was at one time said to be so low as not to pay the cost of trans- 

 port. 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 6,000 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 upward of 370,000. At the latter date the value of Rus- 

 sian mink varied from about twenty-five cents to one dollar per skin, while Ameri- 

 .can skins fetched from one to two dollars and fifty cents. 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 dis- 

 tricts to the eastward of the Yenesei river, but unknown in Siberia. 

 It is more like a polecat in general appearance, having similar dark and light mark- 

 ings on the head and face. The color is a clear, rich tawny, or fulvous brown, as 

 dark below as above. 



