218 TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



(5). Tuberculated teeth as in the last. Praemolars, * . 

 Gen. Fortorius. 



Large ; more than one foot in length ; tail nearly as 

 long as half the body, with no bushy tuft on the end; 

 principally found in the neighbourhood of water. 



21. F. PUTORIUS, L. Yanlig Iller. The Polecat. D. F. 



Black-brown, with pale yellow bottom wool, under 

 part black ; lips, sides of nose, chin, and ears white ; 

 length 1ft. 4 L, tail 7 in. 



Is confined to the south and the middle of the country. 

 Pair here in February or March, and bring forth in May four 

 to six young. 



22. F. LUTKEOLA, L. Flod Iller. F. 



Brown, with dark bottom wool ; ears, nose, and tail 

 blackish; lips and chin white; toes webbed; length 

 1 ft. ; tail 5 in. 



Appears to take the place of the last in the very north, 

 for it is never seen south of Finland. Habits more aquatic 

 than the last ; are said to pair in May, and bring forth in the 

 middle of June. It is doubtful whether this species can be 

 properly called Scandinavian, although very common in Fin- 

 land. 



Gren. Mustela. 



Small, always under a foot in length; tail scarcely 

 more than half the length of the head ; becomes white in 

 winter. 



23. MUSTELA ERMINEA, L. Hermelin. The Stoat. 



Tail at all seasons with a long black tip, ending in 

 a bushy tuft ; colour in summer red, brown above, below 

 white, in winter pure white ; length 9 in. ; tail 5 in. ; 

 but they vary considerably in size, for I have seen them 

 12 in., with a tail measuring 7 in. 



Is met with throughout all Scandinavia, and except in 

 the extreme south is, I think, commoner than the last. It 

 was very common on the fells, around Quickiock, in Lapland, 

 but I never saw the weasel there. 



