MAMMALS. 29 



the voles which winter in the country, and the 

 slaughter eflFected at this period must exert a great 

 influence on'the following season, when these animals 

 recommence their iajurious work, and a pair of them 

 that have survived the winter may perhaps produce 

 two hundred others before the end of the summer. 



6. The Mink (_Putorms lutreola) ia as large as a polecat, and may be 

 regarded aa a sort of link between it and the otbera. Leg and eara 

 short; skinsmooth-haired, brown bothonthe back and the belly; chin, 

 lips, and a small patch on the neck, white ; tail about one-third the 

 length of the body. In well-watered regions on the banks of rivers, 

 lakes, and ponds. Eats water-rats, water-birds, frogs, salamanders, 

 fish, crayfish, water-insects, water-snails, and aquatic bivalves. 

 Holstein, Mecklenburg, Pomerania, Brandenburg, Silesia. 



7. The Otter (Lutra vulgaris). Body flattened ; 

 legs short, with webbed toes ; snout rounded ; ears 

 short, and can be closed by a fold of skin ; tail flat, 

 and pointed at its tip. Length of the body, twenty- 

 eight to thirty -two inches; of the tail, fourteen to 

 sixteen inches. Skin smooth-haired, shining dark 

 brown above and below. Found on the banks of 

 lakes, pools, ponds, rivers, brooks, etc., where fish is 

 plentiful. It catches water-rats, ducks and geese, as 

 well as their young, wild water-birds, frogs, fish, cray- 

 fish, water-insects. Especially destructive to fish. 



8. The Badger {Meles taxus). Body heavy; legs 

 short, plantigrade; toes with strong digging claws; 

 snout pointed ; canines not very large ; both they and 

 the carnassials much worn in old animals. Tuber- 

 culated molars well developed. The dentition and 

 whole structure of the body show that the badger is 

 not exclusively a flesh-eater. Length of body, three 

 feet ; weight, 22 to 33 lbs. Fur tolerably long-haired, 

 yellowish whitey grey, mixed with black. Head 

 with longitudinal stripes of black and white ; tail 

 short, yellowish grey. 



The burrow is very large; several passages, the 

 openings of which may be ninety-seven feet apart, lead 



