53 



but to the changes in the fashions of women's garments. 

 Although the Mink is essentially a nocturnal animal, it is fre- 

 quently seen abroad by day. In common with the Skunk 

 and Weasel this species is equipped with scent sacs at the 

 root of the tail and when much irritated by its enemies emits 

 a most intolerable and penetrating odor. 



Futorius noveboracensis Emmons. Neav York Weasel. 



This Weasel is probably as common in the county now as 

 it ever was. Like its distant relative the Skunk, the Weasel 

 prefers to live in the neighborhood of the farm ; where mice 

 and stone walls affording highways to and from foraging 

 expeditions, offer special inducements. They occasionally 

 take up their residence under a barn or outbuilding, and no 

 greater mistake can be made by the proprietor than to 

 destroy them ; for the continued presence of a Weasel on the 

 premises is evidence that numbers of mice and rats are slain 

 daily. 



I have taken a few winter specimens white in color, but 

 they commonly remain brown throughout the year in this 

 district. 



I have never seen nor heard of a specimen of the smaller 

 weasel (Putorius cicognani) from Westchester Co., although 

 Dr. Mearns has recorded it from the Highlands, and it has 

 been taken on Long Island (Miller 10 , p. 352). 



Procyon lotor Linn. Raccoon. 



The Raccoon is one of the most common of the larger 

 mammals of the comity ; and there is scarcely a stream of 

 any great length, even in the thickly populated districts, 

 upon the shallows and sand-bars of which tracks of these 

 animals may not be seen at the proper season. The strictly 

 nocturnal habits and sagacity of the ' coon ' probably stand 

 between it and extermination for many years to come. From 

 the habit which these animals possess of traveling in shallow 



