MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 



107 



This species is circumpolar and is equally distributed in the 

 New and Old World. In general it does not approach the poles 

 as nearly as the ermine, but extends rather farther south. 

 This species seems to have been domesticated as a mouser in 

 Greece prior to the introduction of cats. 



This species differs from the ermine in its smaller size. The 

 length varies, eight inches being the maximum length of body, 

 the tail about two and a half. The tail is almost always with- 

 out the black terminal portion so characteristic of the larger 

 species. The northern specimens turn white in winter, but in 

 southern Minnesota probably not. But a single specimen was % 

 collected during the survey, and the notes upon this are in- 

 complete. 



B. 



Fig. 8. A. Putorius ermtnea (Ermine or White Weasel). 

 B. Putorius vulgaris (common Weasel). 



Although only relatively rare it is far from well known. Its 

 food is mice, insects, eggs and young birds. It is said to climb 

 readily in search of nests. When a mouse is introduced into 

 the cage containing a weasel, says Bell: ''It instantly issued 

 from its box, and in a moment, one single bite on the head 

 pierced the brain, and laid the mouse dead without a struggle 



