FUR-OLAD FIGHTERS. 143 



often enter the chicken house ; but when he does it 

 is good-by to the hens ! In the field, or among the 

 grain stacks, like the little brown weasel he is the best 

 friend of the farmer, for mice, rats, and rabbits are 

 his favorite game. 



The range of this weasel is from southern Maine 

 and Yermont South to Il^orth Carolina, and West to 

 Indiana and Illinois. 



In late summer, autumn, and winter the weasel's 

 coat is remarkably beautiful. The change from dark 

 brown in summer to white in winter is perhaps the 

 most remarkable thing about the little animal. There 

 is an irregular line of demarcation between the upper 

 brown and the lower buff- white color in summer; 

 this line begins at the mouth, and continues low down 

 on the sides to the tail; all around the latter and 

 over the paws is the same color as the back, but the 

 tip of the tail is black. 



According to Elliott Coues, the latitudes in which 

 the change occurs in this country include the north- 

 ern tier of States and the entire region northward. 

 In this area, he says, the change is regular, complete, 

 and universal ; but, Audubon says, " in specimens 

 received from Virginia the colors of the back had 

 undergone no change in January." 



Eegarding the cause of the color change, about 

 which there is much conflicting opinion, to those who. 



