108 BULLETIN NO. VII. 



or a cry. I have observed that when a weazel seizes a 

 small animal, at the instant when the fatal bite is inflicted, it 

 throws its long, lithe body over its prey, so as to secure it, 

 should the first bite fail. The power which the weasel has of 

 bending the head at right angles with the long and flexible 

 neck gives it a great advantage." In pursuing a rat or mouse, 

 it depends upon the sense of smell, and follows them with 

 equal ease when out of sight, readily recovering the lost track. 

 It is said that it even takes to the water in pursuit of its prey. 

 Although the weasel may itself fall a victim to birds of prey, 

 instances are known when the unequal contest" has been carried 

 on in the air, and the sharp tooth of the weasel has brought to 

 the ground its winged captor. Four or five young are produced, 

 there being two litters annually. A hollow tree or hole in 

 a bank, well lined with leaves, forms the nest. The mother 

 defends her young to the last extremity. 



Putorius erminea LINN. 



ERMINE, OR WHITE WEASEL 

 (PLATE XV, FiaS. 1-15. See ante.) 



Mustela erminea, Earlier authors. 



Putorius noviboracensis DeKAY, etc. (var. cicognani.) 



Mustela cicognani BONAPARTE. 



Putorius cicognani BAIRD, etc. 



Putorius richardsoni RICHARDSON, BAIRD. 



Mustela fusca AUD. 



Putorius agilis AUD. 



Putorius kanei BAIRD. 



We accept unhesitatingly the identification of our species 

 with that of Europe, and incline to regard the P. longicaudata 

 as in the same category. This whole question has been so 

 thoroughly discussed by Coues and Allen that it need not be 

 reopened. 



Every one is familiar with the cylindrical serpentine form, 

 the flattened head notably shorter than the neck. As Coues 

 says, * 'the eyes are rather small, situated midway between the 

 nose and ears ; they glitter with changing hues, and contribute 

 with the low forhead and protruding canine teeth, to a pecu- 

 liarly sinister and ferocious physiognomy. In northern regions 

 the whole sole is furred, but elsewhere the pads appear." 



In summer the upper parts are a uniform brown, varying 

 from very dark umber to a yellowish gray, the line of demark 



