THE MINK. 
283 
which is the mixed offspring of the polecat and the Ferret. This is the animal which is called 
the Polecat-ferret in the above-mentioned anecdote. 
The same author mentions several curious instances of single combat between rats and 
Ferrets, in which the latter animals were successfully resisted. On one occasion, when he was 
walking in the fields, accompanied by the tame Ferret which has already been described, a 
sharp conflict took place between the Ferret and a female water-rat which was defending her 
young. Not seeing the first attack, the 'owner "of the Ferret thought that his favorite had 
wounded its nose against a spike, for it was bleeding profusely, and seemed to be in great dis- 
tress. Presently, however, the cause of its 
wounds became apparent, in the person of 
a large rat, which darted fiercely at him 
from the cover of a bunch of grass, and 
with the force of her spring fairly knocked 
him off his legs. 
When the grass-tuft was removed, a 
litter of young rats was seen, over whom 
the mother was keeping such undaunted 
watch. She did not attempt to escape, 
but ever and anon, as the Ferret drew 
within a certain distance, she flew at him, 
and knocked him over, inflicting a fresh 
bite on every attack, so that the assailant 
was being worsted. At last, being encum- 
bered with the weight of two little rats, 
which clung too firmly to their parent, she 
made a false leap, and was seized in the 
fatal embrace of the Ferret, who would 
soon have put an end to the valiant 
defender of her young had not the owner 
of the Ferret come to the rescue and disen- 
gaged the cruel teeth from their hold. But 
so furious was the mother rat, that when 
she was released from her foe she again 
flew at it, and inflicted several severe 
bites. Its owner then held the Ferret by 
its tail, and was carrying it away, when 
the rat, after making several ineffectual 
springs, actually leaped upon him, ran up mink.-f**™ mtreoia . 
his legs and body, and along his out- 
stretched arm, so as to get at her hated enemy, on whom she inflicted another bite and fell to 
the ground. A second time she attempted this manoeuvre, and when frustrated in her wishes 
set up her back and bade defiance to man and beast. 
To the honor of the human spectator, he took a great interest in the valiant little animal, 
and regularly supplied her with food until her offspring were able to shift for themselves. 
Ox account of its water-loving propensities, the Mixk is called by various names that bear 
relation to water. By some persons it is called the Smaller Otter, or sometimes the Musk 
Otter, while it is known to others under the title of the Water-Polecat. It also goes by the 
name of the Ntjbek Visox. 
The Mink is spread over a very large extent of country, being found in the most northern 
parts of Europe, and also in North America. Its fur is usually brown, with some white about 
the jaws, but seems to be subject to considerable variations of tinting. Some specimens are of 
a much paler brown than others ; in some individuals the fur is nearly black about the head, 
