MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 117 



with a sudden move, he sprang upon his victim, already par- 

 alyzed with fear, laid open the back of the head with a single 

 bite, ate the brains, and left the quivering carcass untouched." 



In connection with the above vivid picture of the effect pro- 

 duced upon its victims by the appearance of the weasel, we- 

 may quote from Coues a passage showing how his aspect 

 affects a more dispassionate and unbiassed observer: 



" A glance at the physiognomy of the weasels would suffice 

 to betray their character. The teeth are almost of the highest 

 raptorial character ; the jaws are worked by enormous masses 

 of muscles covering all the sides of the skull. The forehead is. 

 low, and the nose is sharp; the eyes are small, penetrating, 

 cunning, and glitter with an angry green light. There is 

 something peculiar, moreover, in the way that this fierce head 

 surmounts a body extraordinarily wiry, lithe and muscular. 

 It ends in a remarkably long and slender neck, in such a way 

 that it may be held at a right angle with the axis of the latter- 

 When the creature is glancing around, with the neck stretched 

 up, and the fiat triangular head bent forward, swaying from 

 one side to the other, we catch the likeness in a moment it is 

 the image of a serpent." 



(?) Putorius longicaudata BON APART. 



LONG-TAILED WEASEL. 



This species is noticed by Dr. Coues from Minnesota, though 

 we have never seen it. The only external differences between 

 this and the Ermine are the greater length of the tail (f - f as 

 long as head and body) the terminal black portion of which is 

 reduced, and the substitution of a salmon for a sulphur yellow 

 on the under parts. The habitat is said to be the Upper Mis 

 souri region. It would seem that a geographical variety or 

 race is as high a distinction as the form deserves. In addition 

 to the above external differences, it is true, the skull is said to 

 be much wider half as long as wide, the anteorbital foramen 

 smaller, the upper posterior premolars inclined forward. 



The species occupies the burrows of the Richardson's sper- 

 mophile. 



