66 WILD LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND. 



CHAPTER IX. 



CARNIVORA FERRETS, STOATS, AND WEASELS. 



THE Mustelidae, or weasel family, is the most heterogeneous 

 assemblage of all the carnivorous group. Though differing much 

 among themselves, they possess certain important characters in 

 common. One of the most familiar is the presence of anal glands, 

 situated beneath the root of the tail, which contain a more or le>s 

 noxious and evil-smelling fluid. The three members of the family 

 \\hieh have been introduced into New Zealand belong to the genus 

 J'l/forius, which receives its name from the Latin word putor, a 

 stench. The most notorious example is the American species, the 

 skunk, whose perfume is so strong that David Harum records how 

 a man who killed one went into the woods for a week and " hated 



hisM'lf." 



Of all intentional introductions to this country that of the 

 animals of this family is the most unfortunate and undesirable. 

 The history of the business is, to my mind, a depressing one, for 

 ii shows what people are prepared to do to save their <>\vn pockets, 

 whatever the effect may be upon others. These animals have not 

 done what was expected of them namely, suppressed the rabbits, 

 or even kept them in check, but they have exercised a most baneful 

 influence on the bird-life of the country. Tin- characteristics of 

 the three species are somewhat similar. They have been called 

 vermiform animals, for they have a singularly worm-like appear- 

 ance. The body is long, narrow, and cylindrical in shape, while 

 the legs are relatively extremely short. Tin- nrk is also very long, 

 and bears a small, flattened head; the eyes are small, sav 

 I'lokinir. and glittering. 



The ferret is closely allied to the polecat, but is n dmnest irated 

 varietv. and is zoologically interesting, because it N a true-breed ing 

 albino, havinir white fur and pink eyes. It <iri<_rinated in Africa, 

 and retains this characteristic of its warm origin : that it is unable 

 to endure great cold ; hence if it <_r n es wild in Now Zealand it usually 



