421 



the animal is glancing around with the neck stretched up and 

 the flat triangular head bent forward and swaying from one 

 side to the other we catch the lilteness in a moment — it is the 

 image of a serpent." 



So we have this sanguinary animal compared by 

 two eminent authorities in this line, as like a lion for 

 courage and a serpent in manner and appeai-ance. 



TWO SPECIES. 



While every farmer's boy or other person who is at 

 all acquainted with the common furred and feathered 

 denizens of the woods and fields will speak of diiferent 

 kinds of Weasels, it does not appear to be generally 

 known, except, of courj^e, to naturalists or others who 

 have taken the trouble to investigate the matter, that 

 there are, it is believed, only two distinct species of 

 Weasels in Pennsylvania, Many farmers and numer- 

 ous sportsmen are heard to speak of "white,'' "brown," 

 "black" and "yellow" Weasels, and consider them to 

 be different species. The terms big and little are 

 often applied to these animals, but those employing 

 them commonly consider the Weasels designated by 

 the particular adjective used as belonging to the same 

 species, but of different age and size. The Least Wea- 

 sel is in some instances undoubtedly mistaken for the 

 young of the Ermine whether in winter or summer 

 attire. 



THE LEAST WEASEL.* 



The Least Weasel, according to the best information 

 obtained from local naturalists throughout the State, 



♦The Least Weasel (Putorius cicognani) is "very small, lengih 

 of head and body six or eight inches, of tail-vertebrae two 

 Inches or less, tail-vertebrae about one-fourth or less of the 

 head and body, tail slender, cylindrical, pointed at tip, which 

 Is concolor or not obviously black; under parts white, rarely, 

 if ever, tinged with sulphury; coloration otherwise as in com- 

 mon Weasel." — Coues. 



