1 56 The Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. 



severe hurt. It was fond of squatting in the 

 chimney-corner, and formed a particular attach- 

 ment to an arm-chair in our study." 



Such is a brief account of the principal fur-bearing 

 animals of the genus vmstcla, but the list would 

 be sadly incomplete were I to leave out a little 

 creature whose fur is the emblem of high rank — 

 the ermine. 



The ermine {Mnstcla Eruiinea) is nothing more 

 than the common stoat with which the reader is 

 probably familiar. It doubtless seems odd that the 

 robes of our peers and other dignitaries should be 

 trimmed with the skins of vermin, but such never- 

 theless is the fact. The ermine has a convex nose 

 and forehead, a long slender body, long cylindrical 

 tail, and short limbs. In the winter time the fur of 

 some specimens is of a pure white colour through- 

 out, except on the end of the tail, which, together 

 with a few anterior whiskers, are black. In other 

 specimens there is a bright primrose-yellow tinge 

 on the belly, the posterior part of the back, or the 

 tail. The feet in the winter are clothed with hair 

 on the soles, which project so as to conceal the 

 claws. In the summer the soles are nearly naked, 

 and the fur on the upper parts resembles that of 

 the common weasel in colour. The length of the 

 ermine is about ten inches, exclusive of the tail, 



