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MINK. 

 Putorius visjoii. 



DESORIPTION. 



Liaiger and stouter than the Ermine or Common Weasel; the 

 coat is shaggy and tail bushy; ears short; the tail, about half 

 as long as the body, is blackish; feet semi-palmate (half 

 webbed). General color, dark brownish chestnut. Sometimes 

 rather small-sized individuals of this genus are taken which 

 are of a very dark-brownish black color, and such are known 

 to hunters and farmers as "black minks." The back is usually 

 marked with a blackish area, running lengthwise of the body. 

 The end of the chin is white, and the edges of the upper lip, 

 sometimes, though rarely, are also white, and the throat, 

 breast and belly are fi-equently marked with irregular patches 

 of white. Average weight about two pounds; average height 

 about five inches; length fifteen to twenty inches. 



Sabilat, — North America. Rather common, in suitable locali- 

 ties, throughout Pennsylvania. 



The Mink is found generally throughout the State 

 and is fairly plentiful. It is expert at swimming and 

 diving, and able to remain long under water, where it 

 pursues and catches fish, which it frequently destroys 

 in large numbers. Dr. C. Hart Merriam says: "Often- 

 times its destructiveness in this resepot renders it a 

 serious obstacle to the industry of fish culture." 



FOND OF BROOK TROUT. 



Along some of our mountain streams, where Minks 

 are plentiful, hunters and woodsmen claim that many 

 I'.rook Trout, generally the large-sized ones, are killed 

 by these amphibious depredators. 



CHICKENS AND DUCKS ARE FAVORITE FOOD. 



The Mink does much damage to poultry, especially 

 chickens and ducks. Various kinds of wild birds, pai- 

 ticularly ground-nesting species, crayfish, frogs and 



