MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 125 



running water, from which the Mink catch living fish, that are 

 often furnished, with the greatest delight. 



" 'The building is constructed by an alley three feet wide 

 around its circumference. Within are two rows of cells four 

 feet deep and two and a half wide, each having a door venti- 

 lated at the top and bottom with wire screens, as is also the front 

 entrance, what the proprietors call the anteroom, four by four 

 feet, which must be fastened within every time the building is 

 entered, to prevent the escape of the imprisoned animals. On 

 entering the main hall, which the Minks have access to (when 

 not rearing their young), they present a very playful group. 



" 'The person feeding them is often mounted, for their food 

 and their tenacity of hold is so strong that they may be drawn 

 about or lifted without releasing their hold upon the food. The 

 nest of the female is very peculiarly constructed with grass, 

 leaves, or straw, with a lining of her own fur so firmly com- 

 pacted together as to be with difficulty torn in pieces. The 

 aperture leading to the nest is a round opening, just sufficient 

 to admit the dam, and is provided with a deflected curtain, 

 which covers the entrance and effectually secures her against 

 all invasion when she is within. About the middle of March 

 the females are separated from the males until the young are 

 reared. The necessity for this arises from the fact that the 

 males seem inclined to brood the young almost as much as the 

 dam, when both are permitted to remain together. 



" 'The expense of feeding these animals is almost nominal, 

 being supplied pretty much entirely from the usual offal of a 

 farm yard, with occasional woodchucks and game in general. 

 They eat this food with equal avidity after decomposition has 

 taken place, devouring every particle of flesh, cartilage, and the 

 bones. The flesh and bones entire of the woodchuck are con- 

 sumed often at a single meal. While the expense of keeping 

 is thus trivial, the profitable yield of the animal is compara- 

 tively immense, it being considered a moderate estimate or 

 claim that the Mink with her increase will equal the avails of a 

 cow.'" 



We find in Audubon and Bachman several paragraphs upon 

 the same subject, which will be transcribed: "The Mink, when 

 taken young, becomes very gentle, and forms a strong attach- 

 ment (?) to those who fondle it in a state of domestication. 

 Richardson saw one in the possession of a Canadian woman, 

 that passed the day in her pocket, looking out occasionally 

 when its attention was roused by any unusual noise. We had 



