ERMINE EXPLAINED 
dicial office. Its use as a symbol of rank led to a recognition of ermine 
in heraldry as one of the eight “furs,” represented by an arrangement of 
points indicating the black-tipped tails which, in making up ermine fur, 
are inserted ornamentally in contrast with the pure white of the field. 
be : pee | 
A WEASEL 1 aie “ERMINE,” OR WINTER, DRESS. 
The ermine weasel in summer is brown, individuals differ- 
ing in color from light yellowish to a rich dark mahogany hue, 
according to locality, freshness of the coat, health, etc. The 
chin, throat, and inside of the limbs are sharply white, and the 
chest and abdomen are sulphury yellow — neither white, as 
in the southern weasel, nor orange as in the plains and bridled 
weasels, the last (of the Pacific coast) further distinguished 
by its beautiful black-and-white face. The end of the tail 
in every species but one is black; the exception is the tiny 
P. rixosus of the Canadian Northwest, which is only six inches 
in total length, and the brown of whose summer coat continues 
to the tip of the tail. This last is the smallest carnivore. 
Now, in common with many animals of boreal regions, 
this coat is shed in the late autumn and rapidly winter 
replaced by a much longer and denser one for win- ™*eness: 
ter wear, which in northern weasels is wholly white except 
the black tail end. This change of color takes place in all 
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