22 



VERTEBRATES: MAMMALS. 



and are generally brown in summer and white in win- 

 ter, the tail tipped with black. There are a half-dozen 

 kinds in North America. The fur known as Ermine 

 is furnished by the Weasels, the most valuable coming 

 from Siberia. Weasels are generally bold, courageous, 

 and extremely bloodthirsty, eagerly attacking animals 

 much larger than themselves. They destroy rats and 

 birds, and commit great havoc among poultry, a single 

 individual having been known to kill fifty chickens in 

 one night and the evening of the following day ; and 

 to kill several chickens in a coop near which a man 



was standing! 



Minks are about a foot and 

 a half long to the tail, and are 

 dark brown or black. They 

 are found about ponds and 

 streams, and their fur is very 

 beautiful, and is often sold 

 under the name of American 

 Sable. 



Fig. 49. Mink. 



The Wolverine, found in the Northern States and 



Fig. 50. Wolverine. 



