MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 123 







animals are fed on sound, fresh meat, as they do not relish 

 tainted flesh. In summer it is given to them daily, but in cold 

 weather a large quantity is thrown in at once and allowed to 

 freeze, the Minks helping themselves at pleasure. In February, 

 their allowance is shortened, to get them into condition for 

 breeding. Mr. Resseque claims that this slight degree of fast- 

 ing makes them more lively and playful, and it is a part of his 

 plan to imitate nature as closely as possible their supply of 

 food, in the wild state, being restricted at this season. 



In the minkery, the sexes are not allowed to run together ex- 

 cept during the month of March, which is considered the run- 

 ning season in a state of nature. If allowed together for a 

 longer period, the male teases and annoys the female. At this 

 time, the males fight desperately, and if not soon separated one 

 always gets the mastery. The females come in heat with great 

 regularity, all being ready for the male within ten days; and the 

 period of excitement lasts about four days. One male serves 

 six females. The females reproduce when one year old. The 

 duration of gestation scarcely varies twelve hours from six 

 weeks. There is but one litter annually. The litters run from 

 three to ten in number; the young are born blind, and remain 

 so for five weeks. When newly born, they are light-colored, 

 hairless, and about the size and shape of a little finger. By 

 the time the eyes are open, they are covered with a beautiful 

 coat of glossy hair. The young females develop sooner than 

 the males, attaining their stature in ten months, while the males 

 are not full-grown until they are a year and a half old. It is 

 noted that in every litter one or the other sex predominates in 

 numbers, there being rarely half of them males and the other 

 half females. If taken in hand when their eyes are first open, 

 they are readily tamed; they should not subsequently be al- 

 lowed to remain with the mother or in each other's society. By 

 continual petting and handling, they become like domestic rat- 

 ters, and have all the playfulness of the young of the feline 

 tribe. They may be handled, without fear of their sharp teeth, 

 but they prove extremely mischievous, their scent leading them 

 to food not intended for them. Their fondness for bathing will 

 prompt them to enter a tea-kettle or any open vessel; and when 

 wetted they will roll and dry themselves in a basket of clothes 

 fresh from the laundry, or even upon a lady's dress, occasion - 

 ing much inconvenience. 



Minks are not burrowing animals in a state of nature, but 

 freely avail themselves of the holes of Muskrats and other ver- 



