THE PACIFIC MINK. 



PUTORIUS VISON ENERGUMENOS. 



(Bangs.) 



ALLAN BROOKS. 



This is the form of mink found on the 

 Pacific slope, from Alaska to California, 

 and is a far larger and more heavily built 

 animal than the typical species inhabiting 

 Northern North America. From the form 

 that occurs on the Atlantic coast (lutra- 

 ccphalus), which is also a heavily built 

 mink, it can be distinguished by its darker 

 coloration and cranial characters. 



The Pacific mink has nearly the propor- 



These Pacific lads seem to have regular 

 migrations, being much more common on 

 the smaller brooks and streams in spring 

 and summer than in winter. As the win- 

 ter comes on, they move down to the 

 larger streams and lakes and to the sea 

 coast, returning to the small streams in the 

 spring. 



Like all mink, they refuse all bait at 

 certain seasons, and this does not seem to 



PACIFIC MINK. PUTORIUS VISON ENERGUMENOS. 



tions of an otter on a small scale, very 

 different from the light, weasel-like form 

 of the common species. The males of the 

 Pacific mink are especially large, a good 

 sized adult weighing 4 pounds. The color 

 is generally a dark, sooty brown, though 

 lighter and more reddish animals are often 

 taken, but never so light as the light col- 

 ored varieties of the Eastern forms. There 

 is little or no white on lower surface of 

 this Western animal. In only one indivi- 

 dual have I seen the whole lower jaw 

 white. Its habits are much the same as 

 those of the Eastern species, but it seems 

 to prefer the lower levels as a rule, seldom 

 being found high up in the mountains. 



be governed by the scarcity or abundance 

 of the food supply, as they are more easily 

 trapped in fall and spring than in mid- 

 winter. As a rule, they refuse ducks of all 

 sorts as bait. The best baits are grouse, 

 rabbits, muskrat, and dried or smoked 

 fish. 



I have seen this mink chasing a muskrat 

 in clear water. Both animals were travel- 

 ing at a great rate, about 8 inches under 

 the surface. To my surprise the mink 

 easily overhauled the rat, and would have 

 killed it had I not interfered. Males are 

 much larger than females; so much so that 

 extremes of each sex would hardly be 

 taken for the same species. 



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