SECRETARY'S REPORT. 159 



the Giver of all good ; she continues sipping and advancing gradually ; 

 she has now approached the fated rocks, when with a sudden rush the 

 mink has seized her ; ere he can regain his hole, however, our gun's 

 sharp crack is heard and the marauder lies dead before us." . . 



" This species prefers taking up its residence on the borders of ponds 

 and along the banks of small streams, rather than along large and broad 

 rivers. It delights in frequenting the foot of rapids and waterfalls. 

 When pursued it flies for shelter to the water, an element suited to its 

 amphibious habits, or to some retreat beneath the banks of the stream. 

 It runs tolerably well on high ground, and we have found it on several 

 occasions no easy matter to overtake it, and when overtaken, we have 

 learned to our cost that it was rather a troublesome customer about our 

 legs and feet, where its sharp canine teeth made some uncomfortable 

 indentations ; neither was its odor as pleasant as we could have desired. 

 It is generally supposed that the mink never resorts to a tree to avoid 

 pursuit ; we have, however, witnessed one instance to the contrary. In 

 hunting for ruffed grouse (T". umhellus,) we observed a little dog that 

 accompanied us, barking at the stem of a young tree, and on looking 

 up, perceived a mink seated in the first foi'k, about twelve feet from the 

 ground." 



The nests are made in piles of stones, beneath rocks, and in burrows, 

 usually rabbit burrows. The young are from three to seven in number, 

 and are born in this State in the month of May. 



Description. — Head small and slender ; ears broad, short and round ; 

 neck long; body long and slender; legs short and stout; feet large, 

 covered with hair above and beneath, except the naked pads on the 

 soles and toes ; the toes semi-palmated ; fur soft and dense, with long 

 and stiff hairs in it, and extending beyond it ; color on the whole body, 

 ■with the exception of the chin beneath, and a spot on the throat beneath, 

 which is white, dark brown ; the same above and below ; tail long. 

 Length of head, 31 inches ; length of head and body, 1(S\ inches ; length 

 of tail, not including the hairs at the tip, 6^ inches, including the hairs, 

 8 inches ; length of hind foot, 2^ inches. 



Genus: Lutra. — (Linn.) 

 Characteristics. — Head large and flattened ; ears short and rounded ; 

 incisors, six in each jaw ; canines, much curved and sharpened, two in 

 each jaw ; false molars, eight in the upper, and six in the lower jaw ; 

 molars, two in the upper, and four in the lower jaw ; the upper posterior 

 ones large and quadrate. Body long, slender, and covered with stiff, 

 glossy fur, with a softer fur intermixed ; legs short and strong ; toes, five 

 on each foot, palmated and provided with short, strong claws ; tail tapering 



