MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 121 



selves upon the edge of the dam, and east in our line. The 

 fish were quite plenty, and as fast as we caught one we threw 

 it behind us upon the scaffolding. After a dozen or so had 

 been caught, I thought I would light my pipe, pick up the fish 

 and put them in the shade, and I started to do so. I accom 

 plished the first object, but upon looking for the fish I could 

 not find a single one. I thought that my chum must have re- 

 moved them, and was playing a joke upon me, but on mention- 

 ing it to him he was as much surprised as I was. They could 

 not have fallen through the cracks, or leaped over the side 

 without our knowing it. Where were they? That was the 

 question. He returned to fish, and I seated myself upon the 

 bank to digest the subject. Presently he caught another fish 

 and threw it upon the boards. Immediately I saw a Mink run 

 out from a hole near by, snatch the fish and carry it off. This 

 explained the mysterious disappearance of the others." 



The movements of the Mink on land, though sufficiently 

 active, lack something of the extraordinary agility displayed 

 by the more lithe and slender-bodied Weasels, as a conse- 

 quence of the build of its body; while, for the same reason, it 

 does not pursue the smaller animals into their extensive under- 

 ground retreats, nor so habitually prowl about stone heaps 

 and similar recesses. It is altogether a more openly aggres- 

 sive marauder, though not less persistent and courageous in 

 its attacks. It appears to be more perfectly at home in the 

 water, where it swims with exactly the motions of an Otter, 

 and in fact appears like a small specimen of that kind. It 

 swims with most of the body submerged perhaps only the 

 end of the nose exposed and progresses under water with per- 

 fect ease, remaining long without coming to the surface to 

 breathe. This may be partly the reason of its long survival 

 under the pressure of a deadfall. 



The Mink is not properly a migratory animal. In most sec- 

 tions it remains permanently where it takes up its abode. In 

 others, however, it may be forced to remove at times, owing to 

 scarcity or failure of its food-supply, such as may ensue from 

 the freezing of the waters in northern parts. Under such cir- 

 cumstances, it may perform extensive journeys overland. Trap- 

 pers have indeed spoken to me of a ''running" time with the 

 Minks, but I cannot satisfy myself that reference is here had 

 to anything more than periods of sexual activity, when the ani- 

 mals are hunting mates. I do not think that whatever "migra- 

 tion" may take place is anything more than casual. 

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