284 THE WEASEL. 



while the white patch that is found on the chin is extremely variable in dimensions. The size, 

 too, is lather 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 vicinity. 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 corresponding member in 

 the polecat, is devoid of that muscular power and tapering form which is so strongly charac- 

 teristic of the otter. The feet are well adapted for swimming, 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 "Moenk," and it is known by two other names, 

 " Tutucuri" and "Ncei's." 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 appearance, 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 man or dog, yet it can wage a sharp battle even 

 with such powerful foes, and refuses to yield except at the last necessity. 



The proportions of the Weasel are extremely small, the male being rather larger than the 

 opposite sex. In total length, a full-grown male does not much exceed ten inches, of which 

 the tail occupies more than a fifth, while the female is rather more than an inch shorter than 

 her mate. The color of its fur is a bright reddish-brown on the upper parts of the body, and 

 the under portions are of a pure white, the line of demarcation being tolerably well defined, 

 but not very sharply cut. This contrast of red and white renders it an exceedingly pretty 

 little animal. The tail is of a uniform tint with the body, and is not furnished with the tuft 

 of jetty hairs that forms so conspicuous a decoration of the stoat. 



The audacity of this little creature is really remarkable. It seems to hold every being 

 except itself in the most sovereign contempt, and, to all appearance, is as ready to match itself 

 against a man as against a mouse. Indeed, it carries its arrogant little pretensions so far, 

 that, if elephants were inhabitants of this country, the Weasel would be quite willing to dis- 

 pute the path with them. I remember being entirely baffled by the impertinence of one of 

 these animals, although I was provided with a gun. While I was walking along a path that 

 skirted a corn-field, a stir took place among some dried leaves by the hedge-side, and out ran 

 something small and red along the bottom of the hedge. I instantly fired, but without success, 

 at the moving object, which turned out to be a Weasel. The little creature, instead of running 

 away, or appearing alarmed at the report and the shot, which tore up the ground around it, 

 coolly ran into the middle of the path, and sitting up on its hind legs, with its paws crossed 

 over its nose, leisurely contemplated me for a moment or two, and then quietly retired into 

 the hedge. 



It is a terrible foe to many of the smaller rodents, such as rats and mice, and performs a 

 really good service to the farmer by destroying many of these farmyard pests. It follows them 

 wherever they may be, and mercilessly destroys them, whether they have taken up their sum- 

 mer abode in the hedgerows and river-banks, or whether they have retired to winter quarters 

 among the barns and ricks. Many farmers are in the habit of destroying the Weasels, which 

 they look upon as " vermin, 1 ' but it is now generally thought that although the Weasel must 

 plead guilty to the crime of destroying a chicken or duckling now and then, it may yet plead 

 its great services in the destruction of mice as a cause of acquittal. The Weasel is specially 

 dreaded by rats and mice, because there is no hole through which either of these animals can 



