40 



sidered lucrative; one Mink, with her increase, is regarded by these 

 parties as equal to the avails of a cow. 



These " Minkeries " are interesting to the Zoologist, aside from their 

 novelty, as from them is gained some positive information regarding the 

 reproduction of the species. In the minkery the sexes are kept separate, 

 except in March, the rutting season in a state of nature. The females 

 all come in heat within ten days, and continue about four. The females 

 reproduce when one year old. 



The gestation scarcely varies twelve hours from six weeks, and occurs 

 but once each year. The litters run from three to ten; the young are 

 blind for the first five weeks. They are light colored, hairless, and about 

 the size and shape of a little finger. One or the other sex predominates 

 in number in each litter. The females attain their growth in ten months; 

 the males require a year and a half. Taken when the eyes are open, 

 kept from the mother and their mates, they are easily tamed; they are 

 mischievious, finding food by their sharp scent not intended for them ; 

 they are inordinately fond of bathing, entering any open vessel about 

 the house, and drying themselves by rolling in the nearest fabric at 

 hand. 



Minks do not burrow, but avail themselves of the holes of the Musk- 

 rat and other animals. In the " Minkery " the nest of the female was 

 formed of grass, leaves or straw, with a lining of her own fur firmly com- 

 pacted. The opening just admits the dam, and is provided with a de- 

 flected curtain which covers the entrance. They do not climb a smooth 

 surface but ascend where it is rough enough for a nail-hold. 



The effluvium of the scent-bags is not baneful enough to rout a deter- 

 mined enemy, as in the case of the skunk; it belongs to the class of 

 the musky odors not disagreeable in small quantities to most people. 

 Its service is, evidently, to attract the sexes ; both sexes possess the 

 secreting glands. Like the castoreum of the trappers, it is used to in- 

 crease the efficacy of their bait. Its full strength is tested in taking the 

 Mink from the trap; at such times the degree of fetor is only surpassed 

 by that of the skunk. 



Genus Taxidea. Waterhouse. 



X Ursus, pt., of Schreber. 



<^ Meles taxus, of authors referring to Am. Badger. 



= Taxidea, Waterh., Proc. Zool. Soc. London, vi, 1838, 154; Transac- 

 tions Zool. Soc. Lond , ii, pt. v, 1841, B43. — Baird, Mamm. N. A , 1857, 

 200 ; and of late authors generally. 

 Generic Characters. — Dental formula : i. |"| ; c. \'\ ; pm. |"| ; m. \'^=\ |= 



