1 54 TJie Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. 



long upper hair entirely conceals it. The colour of 

 the mink is usually a rich chocolate brown, with a 

 white patch under the throat and on the breast 

 Its length from the nose to the root of the tail is 

 about fifteen inches, and the tail from seven to 

 eight. There is nothing very remarkable about its 

 habits, except that it commits fearful ravages 

 amongst poultry. Sir John Richardson says : 

 ** The vison passes much of its time in the water, 

 and when pursued seeks shelter in that element in 

 preference to endeavouring to escape by land, on 

 which it travels slowly. It swims and dives well, 

 and can remain a considerable time under water. 

 Its short fur, forming a smooth glossy coat, its tail 

 exactly like that of an otter, and the shortness 

 of its legs, denote its aquatic habits. It preys upon 

 small fish, fish-spawn, fresh-water mussels, &c., in 

 the summer ; but in the winter, when its watery 

 haunts are frozen over, it will hunt mice on land, or 

 travel to a considerable distance through the snow 

 in search of a rapid or fall, where there is still some 

 open water. The vison, when irritated, exhales, 

 next to the skunk, the most fetid odour of any 

 animal in the fur countries. It is not very timid 

 when in the water, and will approach near to a 

 canoe out of curiosity, diving, however, instantly on 

 perceiving the flash of a gun, or any movement 



