Mabch 2, 1896.] 



KNOWLEDGE 



57 



roarten, ■which is a North American species of the size of 

 a fox. As it is likewise more fox-like than other martens, 

 it is commonly teimed the "blackfox" by the trappers. In 

 general colour it is blackish, darker below than above, 

 and becoming greyish on the fore parts of the body 

 and head. It apparently derives its name of fisher- 

 marten from frequenting moister situations than others 

 of its kind, although there does not seem any evidence 

 that it catches fish. Indeed, its favourite prey is stated 

 to be the Canada porcupine, which it kills by biting on 

 the unprotected lower surface of the body. The finest 

 skins are obtained from northern Canada, and these may 

 fetch nearly four pounds each, although inferior specimens 

 are sold for as little as 

 three and sixpence. In 

 1891 between eight and 

 nine thousand skins of this 

 species were sold, the great 

 majority by the Hudson 

 Bay Company. 



The mink (M. vison), 

 which is typically a North 

 American form, although 

 it is represented by a 

 closely allied species (M. 

 /wtreo/fljin Eastern Europe, 

 is the first and largest 

 member of the second 

 great group of the genus 

 Mustela. From the mar- 

 tens all these animals 

 differ in having only four 

 pairs of upper and five of 

 lower cheek-teeth, as well 

 as by certain structural 

 differences in some of 

 these teeth. On account 

 of these and other points 

 of distinction they are 

 frequently separated as a 

 genus, under the title of 

 Futorius. Most of them 

 are much smaller than 

 the martens ; but this is 

 scarcely the case with the 

 minks, which measure 

 from fifteen to eighteen 

 inches to the root of the 

 tail. The pellage of these 

 animals is remarkable for 

 its rich silky gloss, the 

 usual colour being a full 

 dark brown, passing into 

 blackon the tail; thechest, 

 ike that of the pekan, 

 being generally of the 



same dark tint as the rest of the fur. In habits the minks 

 differ markedly from their allies, being amphibious animals, 

 and subsisting partially upon tish, although they also kill 

 and eat large numbers of the smaller mammals. Like 

 the polecats, minks arc decidedly ill-smelling creatures. 



Although the fur of the mink is short it is extremely 

 durable, and on this account, as well as from its beautiful 

 gloss, it was at one time held in considerable estimation, 

 and skins have been known to fetch as much as thirty 

 shillings each. Of late years, however, it has declined in 

 favour, and skins of the American species, according to 

 Mr. Poland, now sell at from five pence to a guinea, while 

 those of the Russian kind do not appear to exceed five 



shillings. Still, in spite of this depreciation in price, 

 mink skins form a very important article of trade, upwards 

 of three hundred and sixty thousand American pelts 

 having been sold in London in 1890, and over two 

 hundred thousand in the following year. Mr. Poland 

 states that mink skins are chiefly used for muffs and 

 coat-Unings, while the tails are made into capes. The fur 

 may be used either in its natural condition, or pulled and 

 dyed to imitate sealskin. 



The polecats, of which there are several kinds dis- 

 tributed over the northern parts of both the Old and New 

 Worlds, yield a short fur of inferior value, which is known 

 in the trade by the name of " fitch." The European polecat 



The Kaecoon. 



(M. inttoriK.s], which is too well known to require anything 

 in the way of description, h.is the fur of the upper-parts 

 dark brown, and that of the lower surface of the body and 

 the tail black. But in the Siberian f^ecies [M. tifrsmaiini) 

 the back and head are covered with a nearly white fur. 

 Like many othir kinds of the commoner furs, fitch is of less 

 value now than formerly ; and whereas in the first quarter 

 of the century the price was a little over four shillings per 

 skin, it now varies from three shillings to eightern pence. 

 Although somewhereabout two hundred thousand European 

 pelts are sold annually at the Leipsic fair, but few find 

 their way into the English market ; and these, it appears, 

 are chiefly employed for tiimming aldermanic robes. 



