THE MINK. 



283 



which is the mixed offspring of the polecat and the Ferret. This is the animal which is called 

 the Polecat-ferret in the above-mentioned anecdote. 



The same author mentions several curious instances of single combat between rats and 

 Ferrets, in which the latter animals were successfully resisted. On one occasion, when he was 

 walking in the fields, accompanied by the tame Ferret which has already been described, a 

 sharp conflict took place between the Ferret and a female water-rat which was defending her 

 young. Not seeing the first attack, the owner of the Ferret thought that his favorite had 

 wounded its nose against a spike, for it was bleeding profusely, and seemed to be in great dis- 

 tress. Presently, however, the cause of its 

 wounds became apparent, in the person of 

 a large rat, which darted fiercely at him 

 from the cover of a bunch of grass, and 

 with the force of her spring fairly knocked 

 him off his legs. 



When the grass-tuft was removed, a 

 litter of young rats was seen, over whom 

 the mother was keeping such undaunted 

 watch. She did not attempt to escape, 

 but ever and anon, as the Ferret drew 

 within a certain distance, she flew at him, 

 and knocked him over, inflicting a fresh 

 bite on every attack, so that the assailant 

 was being worsted. At last, being encum- 

 bered with the weight of two little rats, 

 which clung too firmly to their parent, she 

 made a false leap, and was seized in the 

 fatal embrace of the Ferret, who would 

 soon have put an end to the valiant 

 defender of her young had not the owner 

 of the Ferret come to the rescue and disen- 

 gaged the cruel teeth from their hold. But 

 so furious was the mother rat, that when 

 she was released from her foe she again 

 flew at it, and inflicted several severe 

 bites. Its owner then held the Ferret by 

 its tail, and was carrying it away, when 

 the rat, after making several ineffectual 

 springs, actually leaped upon him, ran up 

 his legs and body, and along his out- 

 stretched arm, so as to get at her hated enemy, on whom she inflicted another bite and fell to 

 the ground. A second time she attempted this manoeuvre, and when frustrated in her wishes 

 set lip her back and bade defiance to man and beast. 



To the honor of the human spectator, he took a great interest in the valiant little animal, 

 and regularly supplied her with food until her offspring were able to shift for themselves. 



On account of its water-loving propensities, 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 considerable variations of tinting. Some specimens are of 

 a much paler brown than others ; in some individuals the fur is nearly black about the head, 



MINK.— Vison lutreola. 



