BRITISH MAMMALS 



In Great Britain the Stoat when it whitens generally begins to change in 

 November or December, those in the colder parts, such as northern Scotland, 

 bleaching earlier than in England, where often the only alteration may be a 

 slight fading of the russet coat and a small extension of the white. 



According to Bell {^ritish Quadrupeds^ 2nd ed. pp. 198-199) 

 "The first indications of alteration in colour are such as might readily 

 escape observation. It is on the basal or brown part of the tail and 

 on the toes that the white first makes its appearance; and after this 

 the white of the belly extends upwards on the animal's sides, thus 

 destroying the regularity of the line where the brown and white meet ; 

 about the same time the legs become powdered with white. A more 

 advanced stage shows the limbs and root of the tail white, and the 

 brown of the back reduced to a narrow stripe, excepting on the rump, 

 which, with the head and hind neck, is the latest to change ; and, in 

 fact, these parts rarely become quite white in this country." 



In Plate 22 is given a figure of the Stoat taken fi-om the specimen 

 obtained in Argyllshire in January 19 19, which shows the full winter 

 pelage, excepting a small mask of brown on the face, always the last 

 part to change. As a sign that the alteration in colour is climatic and 

 not dependent on the season, it is known that Stoats inhabiting the 

 summit of Ben Nevis retain their white coats in summer. Some in- 

 dividuals seem more inclined to assume the winter dress than others, 

 for even in the south of England I have seen one in a comparatively 

 mild season with nearly half the body white. 



The long sinuous neck and body and short legs of the Stoat are 

 perfectly suited to its mode of life, and enable it to follow its prey 

 such as rats into their narrow underground workings. 



The average length of head and body in the male is about lo^ inches, 

 the tail about 5^ or 6 inches. 



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