CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIVORA. 



315 



The European Mink, N. lutreola, is a weasel of the north of Europe, somewhat smaller, and 

 of a darker color, than the Vison ; its habits are, however, similar, and many naturalists have re- 

 garded the two as of the same species. 



The Little Nimble Weasel, Putorius agilis, is a small American species, light brown in sum- 

 mer and white in winter; the body is five inches long. It is found in the State of New York, but 

 its habits are not much known. 



The Brown or Tawny Weasel, Putorius fuscus, is found in the State of New-York, and prob- 

 ably exists in some of the Western States. Its body and head are nine inches long; it is then- 

 fore two inches longer than the common weasel of Europe. Its color, which does not change in 

 winter, is a uniform tawny brown on the upper parts, and white beneath. 



The Brindled Weasel, Putorius frenatus, is of the size of the ermine; its color is yellowish- 

 brown above, and white beneath. It is found in Texas, California, and .Mexico. 



The Small Weasel, Putorius pusillus, is also an American species, and one of the smallest, 

 being only seven inches long. It feeds on insects, mice, and birds' eggs. Its color is a light yel- 

 lowish-brown above, and white beneath. It is found in the fur countries of the north, and as far 

 south as the State of New York. The skin becomes white in winter far to the north, but not in 

 the more southern portions of its range. Richardson believed this to be the same as the common 

 weasel of Europe, but he was doubtless mistaken. 



There are still some other American species of weasel, but their characteristics are very imper- 

 fectly known. 



THE ZOIULLA. 



Genus ZORILLE: Zorilla. — Of this genus there is but a single species, found at the Cape of 



Good Hope and Senegal, and variously denominated by different authors, as Zorilla striata, Z. 



variegata, Z. Capensis, Z. Viverra, &c. It has been included in the same genus as the 



skunks of America, and indeed the Nymtech or Helictu of Asia, and the Mydaus of Java and 



Sumatra, all analogous to the weasels, and all diffusing a fetid odor, have Keen sometimes included 



in the same group. As *ve have placed these according to structure and appearance in separate 



genera, so we now give a distinct place to the zorilla. This animal is about the size of a polecat, 



and resembles it in form and habits. Its general color is black, spotted on tlie head, and stripe. 1 



>n the hack with white. By some it is called the Cape Polecat. This, in fact, is its proper 



leognation. The term Zorilla means Little Fox, and was first given to the moufettes ,,f South 



America on account of their intolerable odor. To them it properly belongs, but Buffon used it 



