MINK. 257 



seemed equally in jeopardy, were apparently disposed peaceably to await 

 the falling of the waters that surrounded them. 



The Minks which resort to the Southern marshes, being there furnished 

 with an abundant supply of food are always fat, and appear to us con- 

 siderably larger than the same species in those localities where food is 

 less abundant. 



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, \vc have 

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

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

 dentations ; neither was its odour 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 the 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 fork, about twelve feet from the 

 ground. Our friend, the late Dr. Wright, of Troy, informed us that whilst 

 he was walking on the border of a wood, near a stream, a small animal 

 which he supposed to be a black squirrel, rushed from a tuft of grass, 

 and ascended a tree. After gaining a seat on a projecting branch, it 

 peeped down at the intruder on its haunts, when he shot it, and picking 

 it up, ascertained that it was a Mink. 



We think, however, that this animal is not often seen to ascend a 

 tree, and these are the only instances of its doing so which are known 

 to us. 



This species is a good swimmer, and like the musk-rat dives at the 

 flash of a gun ; we have observed, however, that the percussion-cap now 

 in general use is too quick for its motions, and that this invention bids 

 fair greatly to lessen its numbers. When shot in the water the body of 

 the Mink, as well as that of the otter, has so little buoyancy, and its bones 

 are so heavy, that it almost invariably sinks. 



The Mink, like the musk-rat and ermine, does not possess much cun- 

 ning, and is easily captured in any kind of trap ; it is taken in steel-traps 

 and box-traps, but more generally in what are called dead-falls. It is at- 

 tracted by any kind of flesh, but we have usually seen the traps baited 

 with the head of a ruffed grouse, wild duck, chicken, jay, or other 



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