THE MINK 93 



You may know the mink's track upon the 

 snow from those of the squirrels at once. In 

 the squirrel-track the prints of the large hind 

 feet are ahead, with the prints of the smaller fore 

 feet just behind them, as in the case of the 

 rabbit. The mink, in running, usually plants 

 his hind feet exactly upon the track of his 

 fore feet, and closer together than the squirrel, 

 so that his trail upon the snow is something like 

 this : — 



The squirrel's track, as well as those of the rab- 

 bit and the white-footed mouse, is in form like 

 this: — 



One winter day I had a good view of a mink 

 running upon the snow and ice along the edge 

 of a stream. He had seen or heard me, and was 

 making a little extra speed. He bounded along 

 with his back much arched, in a curiously stiff 

 and mechanical sort of way, with none of the 

 grace and ease of the squirrel. He leaped high, 

 and cleared about two and a half feet at a bound. 



