Frs., 1912. MAmMats oF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN — Cory. 371 
to my knowledge, show any preference for the vicinity of water either 
to its hunting grounds or its retreat. It appears generally to prefer 
hilly and rocky regions. It is said not to burrow readily, but usually 
to take possession of the burrow of another animal, or to choose its 
retreat in some natural crevice among rocks, or in slight excavations 
formed by itself under trees. I have generally found it occupying the 
burrow of the common ground-squirrel (Tamias striatus), and have 
sometimes known it to live in hollow logs in summer. It often travels 
under snow, through pathways constructed like those of the shrews 
and meadow-mice; and I have traced these snow-covered ways for many 
rods, where the weasel had evidently been in search of prey. Some of 
these had been travelled repeatedly and for a long time, though few 
tracks were seen on the surface. In consequence of this habit, the 
presence of the animal is sometimes not noticed. 
“Tn its winter quarters, the weasel forms a large, warm nest, like 
that of the mink. Five young are commonly produced in the early 
part of summer; and these, I am informed, remain with the mother, or 
at least keep together in the same neighborhood till autumn, when they 
separate, and, like the mink, lead a solitary life, the males only joining 
the females in the pairing season. This is in the latter part of February, 
at which time the males are very active, wandering far from their 
burrows in search of the females. I cannot say whether this species 
ever inhabits the prairie at a distance from the woods. It may be that 
all the weasels found living on the prairies of Illinois are of the smaller 
species, Putorius cicognanii. All the weasels identified with the Putorius 
noveboracensis, which I have observed, were taken in the woods. This 
species is not a tree-climber any more than the mink; but it has occa- 
sionally been seen to ascend trees, and I am informed of a remarkable 
instance in which one was observed to pursue and overtake a ground- 
squirrel upon a tree.” (J. c., 1858, pp. 105-106.) 
As illustrating the febooity of these animals, Dr. C. Hart Merriam 
says:* 
“T once put a very large rat into a square tin cage with a Weasel 
of this species. The rat had been caught in a steel trap by the toes of 
one of its hind feet, and was in no way injured. He was very ugly, 
biting fiercely at the trap and the stick with which I assisted him into 
the cage with the Weasel. No sooner had he entered the cage than his 
whole manner and bearing changed. He immediately assumed an 
attitude of abject terror, trembling from head to foot, and crawled into 
the nearest corner. The Weasel advanced toward him at once, and as 
he did so the rat raised on his hind legs, letting his fore paws hang 
*Mamm. Adirondack Reg., 1886, p. 57. 
