Chap. 2. 



QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT. 



31 



THE ERMINE. 



THE MINK. 



THE ERMINE. 

 Mustela erminea. — Linn. Gmkl. 



Putmius erminea. — Cuvier. 



Description. — Color, both in summer 

 and winter, nearly the same as that of the 

 Weasel, e.xceptino- that the upper parts 

 of the Ermine are darker in summer and 

 the under parts a clearer white than the 

 same parts of the Weasel. The Ermine 

 also grows to a larger size than the Wea- 

 sel and is likewise more thick set, its 

 forehead and nose more convex ; its ears 

 broader and more rounded, and its tail a- 

 bout twice as long in proportion to the 

 length of the body. Length of the head 

 and body of the specimen before me 8 in- 

 ches ; tail (vertebree) 3..5. The tuft or pen- 

 cil at the extremity extends about .7 inch- 

 es beyond the vertebrsE both in this and 

 the Weasel. 



History. — It has been a matter of dis- 

 pute whether this and the preceding ani- 

 mal do or do not belong to the same 

 species. Dr. Harlan describes them as 

 two," Dr. Godman, as one.t With these 

 authorities before him, Dr. Richardson 

 says tliat both these species are, indubita- 

 bly, inhabitants of the American conti- 

 nent, the Ermine extending to the most 

 remote arctic districts and tlie Weasel as 

 far north, at least, as the Saskatchewan 

 river. t Dr. Williams also describes the 

 two as distinct species, and says that the 

 Ermine, which he calls " one of the great- 

 est beauties of nature" sometimes weighs 

 14 ounces, but that the Weasel is smaller. § 

 The skin of the Ermine, in its winter pe- 

 lage of pure white, was formerly held in 

 very high estimation, and was much worn 

 by the nobility and high functionaries of 

 Europe upon their robes and dresses, and 

 jiarticularly by judges. Thence it became 

 the emblem of judicial purity, and the 

 judge who was any way corrupted was 

 said to have soiled his Ermine. The value 

 of the skins at present is hardly sufficient 

 to pay for collecting them. The Ermine 

 in its summer dress is, in many places, 

 called the Stoat. 



* Fauna Americana p. 61. 

 t Fauna Boroali, I. p. 45. 



fNat.Hi-5. I. p. 193. 

 $ His. Vt. I. p. Hi. 



THE MINK. 

 Mustela vison. — Linn. Gmel. 



Putorius vison. — Cuvier. 



Description. — The head is depressed 

 and small ; eyes small and far forward ; 

 ears low and rounded ; neck and body 

 long and slender; tail round and thick 

 next the body and tapering towards the 

 tip ; legs short ; toes connected by short 

 hairy webs ; claws nearly straight, sharp, 

 white and concealed by the fur. The fur 

 is of two sorts, a very dense down mixed 

 with strong hairs ; shortest on the head 

 and increasing in length backwards ; color 

 of the down brownish gray; that of the 

 hairs varying indifferent parts from choc- 

 olate brown to brownish black ; occasion- 

 al white spots about the throat ; two oval 

 glands which secrete a very fetid fluid. 

 Length of the head and body 20 inches, 

 tail 9 inches. 



History. — The Mink is a common ani- 

 mal in Vermont- Its favorite haunts are 

 along the banks of streams, where it 

 dwells in holes near the water, or in the 

 ruins of old walls, or in heaps of flood 

 wood, or in piers and abutments ofbridges. 

 It does not venture far from the streams 

 and when pursued betakes himself imme- 

 diately to the water. It does not run well 

 on land, but swims and dives admirably,, 

 and can remain a long time under water. 

 When irritated it ejects a fluid, which 

 difl!"uses a very unpleasant odor. Its fine- 

 short fur. Otter-like tail, short legs and 

 webbed feet, all denote its aquatic habits. 

 Its fur though not highly prized, is more 

 valuable than that of the Musk rat. 

 The food of the Mink consists of frogs, 

 fishes, muscles and fish spawn ; and also 

 rats, mice, young birds and other small 

 land animals. They sometimes enter the 

 poultry yard, where tliey make great hav- 

 oc among the fowls, by cutting off" their 

 heads and sucking their blood. It is not 

 a very timid animal when in the water, 

 but dives instantly at the flash of a gun, 

 which makes it difficult to shoot them. It is 

 easily tamed and in that state is very 

 fond of being caressed, but, like the cat, 

 is easily offended, and, on a sudden pro- 

 vocation, will sometimes bite its kindest 

 benefactor. This animal is found through- 

 out the United States and British Ameri- 

 ca, but there has been some confusion 



