426 FOUR-FOOTED AMERIGANH 



Family of Little Fue Bearers 

 MustelidEB 



(Number of Xni-tli American Species, T\vent\' t(j Tliirtj') 



A large family of small and medium sized fur bearers, 

 of great commercial value. Grouped according to their teeth 

 and claws. 



American Otter . . Lutra canadensis. 



Lenf;tli (if body, 2 J feet ; tail, IJ feet. 



Broad, flat head ; close, short fur ; long tail ; round feet, 

 with -webbed toes and small, blunt claws. Aquatic and fish- 

 eating. 



* * 



Common Skunk . . Mephitis mephitica. 



Length of body, 1| feet ; tail, 13 inches. 



Little Striped Skunk . . ... Spilogale putorius. 



Length of body, IJ feet ; tail, 7J inches. 



Small head ; small, round ears ; long, plumy tail ; body 

 long, covered with black and white fur of good quality. 

 Burrowing animals, living on mixed food. They secrete an 

 ■ offensive odor, which they use as a weapon of defence. 



* * 



American Sable, or Pine Marten . . . IHustela americana. 



Length of body, 11 feet ; tail, 10 inches. 



Fisher ... ... Mustela pennanii. 



Length of body, 2 feet ; tail, 14 inches. . 



Living among the trees of rocky woods. Savage animals 



for their size; agile climbers; great destroyers of small 



gnawers. Fur soft and beautiful. 



■*- 

 » *- 



Weasel, or Ermine . . Putorius noveboracensis. 



Length of body, 11 inches ; tail, 7 inches. 



Mink . Putorius vison. 



Length of body, 1 ^ feet ; tail, 9 inches. 



