THE WEASEL. 



359 



her house, when he was surprised by the savage conduct of the Ferret, which boldly 

 advanced from a spot where it had hidden itself, and, as if roused to fury by the in- 

 fant's cries, attempted to renew its sanguinary repast. It was met by a sharp kick, 

 but undauntedly attacked the foot that dealt the blow, and attempted to run up the 

 leg. Not until its back was broken by repeated kicks did the Ferret cease from its 

 furious efforts ; and even when struggling in death, it seemed to be powerfully excited 

 by the child's cries. As the poor child had been heard by the neighbors to scream 

 for more than half an hour before the return of its mother, it is probable that the 

 savage creature had been employed for that time upon its sanguinary feast, The ex- 

 traordinary boldness and ferocity of the Ferret are the more remarkable because it had 

 been cited as a peculiarly shy animal. 



ON account of its water-loving porpensities, the MINK is called by various names 

 that bear relation to water. By some persons it is called the Smaller Otter, or sometimes 

 the Musk Otter, while it is known to others under the title of the Water-Polecat. It 

 also goes by the name of the NUREK VISON. 



The Mink is spread over a very large extent of country, being found in the most 

 northern parts of Europe, and also in North America. Its fur is usually brown, with 

 some white about the jaws, but 

 seems to be subject to consider- 

 able variations of tinting. Some 

 specimens are of a much paler 

 brown than others ; in some in- 

 dividuals the fur is nearly black 

 about the head, while the white 

 patch that is found on the chin 

 is extremely variable in dimen- 

 sions. The size, too, is rather 

 variable. 



It frequents the banks of 

 ponds, rivers, and marshes, 

 seeming to prefer the stillest 

 waters in the autumn, and the 

 rapidly flowing currents in 

 spring. As may be supposed 

 from the nature of its haunts, 

 its food consists almost wholly 

 of fish, frogs, crawfish, aquatic 

 insects, and other creatures that 

 are to be found either in the 

 waters or in their close vicinitv. 



^ 



The general shape of its body is not quite the same as that of the marten or ferret ; 

 and assumes something of the otter aspect. The teeth, however, are nearer those of the 

 polecat than of the otter ; and its tail, although not so fully charged with hair as the cor- 

 responding member in the polecat, is devoid of that muscular power and tapering form 

 which is so strongly characteristic of the otter. The feet are well adapted for swim- 

 ming, on account of a slight webbing between the toes. 



The fur of this animal is excellent in quality, and is by many persons valued very 

 highly. By the furriers it passes under the name of " Mcenk," and it is known by two 

 other names, " Tutucuri " and " Ncers." As it bears a great resemblance to the fur of 

 the sable, it is often fraudulently substituted, for that article, a deception which is the 

 more to be regretted, as the fur of the Mink is a really excellent one, handsome in its ap- 

 pearance, and extremely warm in character. By some authors, the identity of the Mink 

 with the water-polecat has been doubted, but, as it appears, without sufficient reason. 



THERE is hardly any animal which, for its size, is so much to be dreaded by 

 the creatures on which it preys as the common WEASEL. Although its diminutive 

 proportions render a single Weasel an insignificant opponent to manor dog, yet it 



MINK. VISON. -Lutreola. 



