82 



varying character of successive winters in temperate regions may deter- 

 mine the degree of variance. 



The generic name of the Ermine (from puteo, to stink) is very appro- 

 priate. Under the influence of fear, anger, or of sexual passion, either 

 sex may emit at pleasure an odor only excelled in extent and penetra- 

 tion by the skunk itself. Special glands, as in mo«t of the family, on 

 either side of the anus, just within the verge of the opening, secrete 

 and emit a fluid which, when the anus is slightly everted and the pa- 

 pilhe in which the ducts of the glands terminate erected, maybe spirted 

 several inches in a fine spray. The savages will not eat the flesh, so 

 thoroughly impregnated is it with the fcetor. 



The female is smaller than the male. She brings forth her young, four 

 or five as an average number, from March to June, according to the cli- 

 mate, but ordinarily in April or May. The breeding places are under 

 logs, in piles of rocks, tree stumps, or hollows. A nest described by Pal- 

 lafl, was in the hollow of a tree. It was very foul. In one compart- 

 ment was a heap of fresh mice and shrews ; in a second, a quantity of 

 rejected skins, feet, and tails of these animals. The mother fought 

 courageously for her two little ones, followed the captor, and could scarcely 

 be repelled. 



The pelt was formerly one of the exports of Canada. It is in but lit- 

 tle demand at present, not repaying the Hudson's Bay Company the 

 expense of collecting them. Those taken in Siberia have been chiefly 

 sent to China, Turkey, and elsewhere for vestments, the tails being re- 

 served by law as the exclusive perquisite of royalty. Some Indian tribes 

 on the Missouri decorate the regalia of ceremony with the tails, in imi- 

 tation of royal fashion. 



A vivid idea of the character and habits of the Ermine may be found 

 in the following from Audubon : 



" Graceful in form, rapid in his movements, and of untiring industry, 

 he is withal a brave and fearless, little fellow. Conscious of security 

 within the windings of his retreat among the logs or heaps of stones, he 

 • permits us to approach him within a few feet, and then suddenly with- 

 draws his head; we remain still for a moment, and he once more returns 

 to the post of his observations, watching curiously our every motion, 

 seeming willing to claim association as long as we abstain from becoming 

 his persecutor. 



" Yet, with all these external attractions, this liitle Weasel is fierce 

 and bloodthirsty, possessing an intuitive propensity to destroy every an- 

 imal and bird within its reach, some of which, such as the American 



