102 THE COMMON WEASEL. 



in the most northern parts of Europe, and also in North America. 

 Its fur is usually brown, with some white about the jaws, but seems to 

 be subject to considerable variations of tinting. Some specimens are 

 of a much paler brown than others ; in some individuals the fur is 

 nearly black about the head, while the white patch that is found on 

 the ciiin is extremely variable in dimensions. The size, too, is rather 

 variable. 



It frequents the banks of ponds, rivers, and marshes, seeming to 

 prefer the stillest Avaters in the autumn, and the rapidly-flowing cur- 

 rents in spring. As may be supposed from the nature of its haunts, its 

 food consists almost wholly of fish, frogs, crawfish, aquatic insects, and 

 other creatures that are to be found either in the waters or in their close 

 vicinity. The general shape of its body is not quite the same as that of 

 the marten or ferret, and assumes something of the otter aspect. The 

 teeth, however, are nearer those of the polecat than of the otter, and its 

 tail, although not so fully charged with hair as the corresponding mem- 

 ber in the polecat, is devoid of that muscular power and tapering form 

 which is so strongly characteristic of the otter. The feet are well 

 adapted for swimming, on account of a slight webbing between the toes. 



The fur of this animal is excellent in quality, and is by many per- 

 sons valued very highly. By the furriers it passes under the name of 

 " Moenk," and it is known by two other names, " Tutucuri " and " Noers." 

 As it bears a great resemblance to the fur of the sable, it is often fraud- 

 ulently substituted for that article— a deception which is the more to 

 be regretted, as the fur of the Mink is a really excellent one, handsome 

 in its appearance, and extremely warm in character. By some authors 

 the identity of the Mink with the water-polecat has been doubted, but, 

 as it appears, without sufficient reason. 



There is hardly any animal which, for its size, is so much to be 

 dreaded by the creatures on which it preys as the Common Weasel. 

 Although its diminutive proportions render a single Weasel an insig- 

 nificant opponent to man or dog, yet it can wage a sharp battle even 

 with such powerful foes, and refuses to yield except at the last necessity. 



The proportions of the Weasel are extremely small, the male being 

 rather larger than the opposite sex. In total length, a full-grown male 

 does not much exceed ten inches, of which the tail occupies more than 

 a fifth, while the female is rather more than an inch shorter than her 

 mate. The color of its fur is a bright reddish brow^n on the upper 

 parts of the body, and the under portions are of a pure white, the line 

 of demarcation being tolerably well defined, but not very sharply cut. 



It IS a terrible foe to many of the smaller rodents, such as rats and 

 mice, and performs a really good service to the farmer by destroying 

 many of these farmyard pests. It follows them wherever they may be, 

 and mercdessly destroys them, whether they have taken up their sum- 



