38 MAMMALS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS 



frightened. They become very tame in captivity and there 

 is rarely any odor from them if kindly treated. 



Large browni mink. Putorius vison lutreocephalus 

 (Harlan). 



Not uncommon on the coast. The females construct 

 nests inside a log or among the rocks usually near a stream 

 and well hidden in the grass or thick bulrushes, ft Not 

 strictly a nocturnal or diurnal mammal, but after a hearty 

 meal they will turn in and sleep: upon awakening they 

 will start out on another hunt, not seeming to care whether 

 it is broad daylight or midnight. 



Little brown weasel. Putorius cicognanii (Bonaparte). 



Length, male about 11 in. Female about 9 in. Not 

 uncommon in open rocky places and in stone walls on edge 

 of woods. They appear suddenly as if from nowhere, 

 sometimes within a few feet of you, — seemingly not at all 

 afraid of man — and disappear again quickly and quietly as 

 if into space. Color, white in winter, brown above in 

 summer, and a mixture of brown and white in spring and 

 fall. They make their nests in the roots of hollow trees, 

 or sometimes take possession of the chipmunk or wood- 

 chuck burrows. They go on long hunts, sometimes for a 

 week or two, at times travelling miles in a single night. 



New York weasel. Putorius noveboracensis Emmons. 



Length of male about 16 in. Female 13 in. In woods, 

 sometimes near houses. This is a larger form than P. 

 cicognanii, though its habits are much the same. It is rather 

 uncommon in the county. 



Family Pbocyonid^e. 

 Raccoon ; Coon. Procyon lotor (Linne). 



Rare in the county. Found in deciduous and mixed 

 woods. They make their nests and have their young in 

 hollow trees. Sometimes they make use of the nests of 

 hawks and owls to sleep in. At other times they hang up 



