Feb., 191 2. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 373 



helplessly over his breast, and squealed piteously. Not only did he 

 show no disposition to fight, but offered no resistance whatever, and 

 did not even attempt to defend himself when molested. The Weasel 

 did not seize him at first, but cuffed him with his fore paws and drove 

 him from one corner of the cage to another, glaring at him contin- 

 uously. Then, with a sudden move, he sprang upon his victim, already 

 paralyzed with fear, laid open the back of his head with a single bite, ate 

 the brains, and left the quivering carcass untouched. 



''The Ermine hunts both by day and by night, and climbs trees 

 with great ease and celerity. I have often 'treed' them myself by 

 running after them in the woods, and have also seen them chase chip- 

 munks up trees. Twice have I seen them run up the smooth trunks of 

 the beech. They are not very timid and will allow a near approach 

 before taking fright." 



The New York Weasel turns white in winter in latitudes where 

 there is snow the greater part of the season. The young are born late 

 in April or early in May and usually number from five to eight. Mr. 

 W. E. Snyder informs me that on May 4, 19 10, while plowing a field at 

 Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, a Weasel's nest was discovered which pre- 

 sumably belonged to this species. The nest was in a deserted burrow of 

 a Striped Prairie Squirrel (C. tridecemlineatus) , which was about five 

 feet in length and about a foot below the surface of the ground. The 

 nest was lined with Microtus fur and contained eight young Weasels 

 with eyes not yet opened and bodies almost naked except about the 

 shoulders where they were covered with long hair. In the nest were 

 four dead Meadow Mice {Microtus), one adult and three young which 

 were evidently intended as a food supply for the mother. 



The white winter skins of these animals when used for capes, muffs, 

 etc., are apparently indistinguishable from those of the Old World 

 Weasels (P. ermina), which are the Ermine of commerce, often much 

 in fashion for ladies' winter garments, and which in Europe were used 

 for the robes of kings and nobles, thus obtaining a distinct recogni- 

 tion in heraldry. 



Like the Minks the Weasels are supplied with anal glands which 

 secrete a fetid liquid, but are unable to forcibly eject it like the Skunk. 



Specimens examined from Illinois and Wisconsin: 

 Illinois — Bloomingdale Springs, i ; Milton Spring, i ; Fort Sheridan, i ; 



Camp Logan, 3 = 6. 

 Wisconsin — (M. P. M.) Milton, Rock Co., 2; Milwaukee, 2; Kelly 



Brook, Oconto Co., i; Milwaukee Co., i; (S. C.) Beaver Dam, 



Dodge Co., 20=26. 



