60 



\()irrn .\M/:h'/c.\.\ mammals 



The coiiiiuoii >kiiiik is a \('r>' iix't'ul alth()U«!;li «»;r('atly abused aiiiiual. 



Skunk \\ liil<' it occasionally destroys ])oultry and other birds, its 



principal I'ood consists of injurious insects and field mice. 



lt> (lel"ensi\(' weapon is an excessively fetid fluid secreted by a pair of 



viands situated near the base of the tail. It has the ability to eject this 



\ 





" / 



_is ^y ^'.^ 



^'^^'/J^^^SIE 



^ ^<± 



THE WEASEL GROUP 



One of the groups representing the small mammals found within fifty miles of Xew York City. 

 The others of the series show opossum, raeeoon, red and gray foxes, skunk, mink, muskrat. 

 woodchuck, rabbits and squirrels. The list includes some "fur-bearing" species; weasel fur is often 

 u.sed instead of ermine. 



fluid to a consideral)le (Hstanoe. Its skin makes a valuable fur known as 

 ''Alaskan sal)l(^" 



1\\() other fiu'-bearing animals shown ar(* the mink and 

 the wea.sel, the latter in both its summer dress of dull 

 brown and its winter coat of white. Weasel fur is often 

 used in ])lace of (M'mine. 



Another fur-b(nirin<2; animal shown is the muskrat. In the ji;roup are 

 secMi its sunnner home, usually a burrow in the bank of a 

 stream or i^ond. and its winter mound, constructed of 

 swamp «>;rass and roots mixed with mud. Muskrats are extensively trap- 

 ped for their fur. 



Mink and 

 Weasel 



Muskrat 



