303 Ground Vermin. 



Besides the very general name of stoat, there are a 

 multitude of names employed in various districts to 

 denominate this Mustela, amongst which is ' ' ermine, ' ' 

 especially when the animal has donned its winter coat. 

 The ' ' ermine weasel ' ' is another mode of referring to 

 this change of colour in the fur. " Stout " and " stat " 

 are but corruptions, while " black-tail " refers to the 

 animal's "terminal appendage." "Mouse-hunter" is 

 an Essex name. To enumerate further names would be 

 a considerable task to very little purpose, for they are 

 mostly employed locally in rural districts. 



The best known or summer dress of the stoat is a dull 

 reddish-brown over the upper and outer parts of the body, 

 while the under and inner parts are of a yellowish-white, 

 or rather what is generally termed cream-colour. The 

 tail is, at the root, of the same colour as the body, but 

 deepens off to quite black at the end, about half being 

 one colour and half the other. 



The winter coat of the stoat is nearly white throughout, 

 but not wholly so, as it retains in all cases, to more or less 

 extent, a slight tinge of yellow, more especially upon the 

 inner and under portions of the body, but not so notice- 

 ably yellow as the white markings of the summer dress. 

 The tail, however, retains its black colour without any 

 change, and contrasts in a marked degree with the rest of 

 the body. 



In England the alteration in the colour of the fur is of 

 rare occurrence, except in the higher and more exposed 

 parts of the kingdom. In Wales and Ireland, however, 

 it is occasionally noticed, while in Scotland, in the 

 southern counties, it is common, and in those situated 

 north of the Forth and Clyde very common indeed. 

 Curiously, a nearly white stoat was taken near Chelmsford 

 in February, 1906. Except in the Northern portion of the 



