LITTLE BEASTS OF FIELD AND WOOD 



a fox or bird of prey is in sight, they gather 

 in the neighbouring trees without any unusual 

 outcry, while from time to time one of their 

 number flies along slowly just over the mink, 

 as if to examine it, at times approaching quite 

 close, — and then away again to join its fellows. 



I once saw a mink trying to catch some robins 

 in an open pasture, and though they were careful 

 to keep out of his way, there was no general 

 alarm given, as would have been the case if the 

 enemy had been a hawk or fox, or even a cat. 



In most districts minks vary greatly in abun- 

 dance from year to year, their numbers depend- 

 ing largely on the value fashion chooses to bestow 

 upon their fur. Some thirt^' years ago they rose 

 in favour until their skins brought five or ten dol- 

 lars each, and they were killed in such numbers 

 that in a short time they became almost extinct 

 throughout the country. But, fortunately for 

 them, mink fur soon after became unfashionable 

 again, and remained so for ten or fifteen years. 



