BRITISH MAMMALS 
In Great Britain the Stoat when it whitens generally begins to change in 
November or December, those in the colder parts, such as northern Scotland, 
bleaching earlier than in England, where often the only alteration may be a 
slight fading of the russet coat and a small extension of the white. 
According to Bell {^ritish Quadrupeds^ and ed. pp. 198-199) 
"The first indications of alteration in colour are such as might readily 
escape observation. It is on the basal or brown part of the tail and 
on the toes that the white first makes its appearance ; and after this 
the white of the belly extends upwards on the animal's sides, thus 
destroying the regularity of the line where the brown and white meet ; 
about the same time the legs become powdered with white. A more 
advanced stage shows the limbs and root of the tail white, and the 
brown of the back reduced to a narrow stripe, excepting on the rump, 
which, with the head and hind neck, is the latest to change ; and, in 
fact, these parts rarely become quite white in this country." 
In Plate 22 is given a figure of the Stoat taken fi-om the specimen 
obtained in Argyllshire in January 1919, which shows the full winter 
pelage, excepting a small mask of brown on the face, always the last 
part to change. As a sign that the alteration in colour is climatic and 
not dependent on the season, it is known that Stoats inhabiting the 
summit of Ben Nevis retain their white coats in summer. Some in- 
dividuals seem more inclined to assume the winter dress than others, 
for even in the south of England I have seen one in a comparatively 
mild season with nearly half the body white. 
The long sinuous neck and body and short legs of the Stoat are 
perfectly suited to its mode of life, and enable it to follow its prey 
such as rats into their narrow underground workings. 
The average length of head and body in the male is about i o\ inches, 
the tail about 5j or 6 inches. 
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