MINK, FERRET, AND WEASEL 
29 
of coast line. But with the introduction of fire- 
arms, and the sealing schooners, the Sea Otter 
has been almost exterminated. The few indi- 
viduals that remain are widely scattered, and 
are the wildest and wariest of all wild creatures. 
The Mink 1 is much smaller than the otter, 
yellowish brown or dark brown in color, and 
while it prefers to live along the banks of 
streams, it is not an aquatic animal like the 
otter. When possible, it feeds chiefly upon 
birds, because they are easily caught and killed, 
and when opportunity offers, it is a wanton 
murderer. It also preys upon small mammals 
and fish, whenever it can procure them. In the 
Beaver Pond of the New York Zoological Park 
a murderous Mink once killed six wild geese in 
one night, and another slaughtered ten herring- 
gulls. 
A full-grown Mink looks very much like a 
large weasel, having a long, slender body and 
very short legs. 
The Mink is by no means as rare as the otter, 
and even to-day is found scattered throughout 
nearly the whole of North America, as far as 
the limit of trees. The round, hairy tail, choco- 
late-brown or yellowish-brown color and smaller 
size of this animal quickly distinguish it from all 
other animals of its Family. The body of a full- 
grown specimen is about as thick as the wrist 
of a medium-sized man. The length of the head 
and body is 19 inches, tail 7 inches. 
The Black-Footed Ferret , 2 of Kansas, Colo- 
rado, Wyoming and Montana, is to many per- 
sons who live in its home country, an enigma. 
In 1849 this pretty creature was described and 
illustrated by Audubon and Bachman, after 
which it totally disappeared, and remained a 
mystery until it was re-discovered in 1886. In its 
home it is often called the Prairie-“ Dog ” 
Hunter, because its specialty is the killing of 
prairie- 11 dogs;” and it is nearly always found in 
the towns of that jolly little animal. It can be 
recognized at a glance by its black feet, brown 
legs and black tail-tip, and the cream-yellow color 
of its head and body. Next to the skin, the fur is 
white, and there is a broad black or dark-brown 
patch across the nose, including both eyes. Its 
length of head and body is 19 inches, tail 4 inches. 
Regarding its habits and life history, much re- 
1 Lu-tre-o'la vi'son, and related species. 
2 Pu-to'ri-us nig'ri-pcs. 
mains to be ascertained by the young natural- 
ists who live in the country it inhabits. 
The Weasel, of which many species and races 
have been described, is the smallest animal in 
the marten family. 1 Its legs are very short 
and far apart, and its body is no thicker than a 
BLACK-FOOTED FERRET. 
man s thumb, but it is of such great length that 
the animal is positively snake-like in its propor- 
tions. In life it is very odd to see the front legs 
walk to and fro quite independently of the hind 
quarters. Fifteen full species have been de- 
scribed, several of them being very much alike. 
The Common Weasel, or Ermine 2 is brown 
in summer, and white in winter. 
The Weasel is one of the most courageous 
and aggressive of all animals. It kills rabbits, 
grouse, chickens and ducks of ten or twelve 
times its own size, and often kills ten times as 
many chickens as it can eat, purely to gratify 
its murderous disposition. It is as savage as a 
tiger, but on farms it often does good service in 
destroying rats and field-mice. Weasels are 
so small their fur has little value, but the time 
is coming when it will eagerly be sought and 
used. 
'The Least Weasel ( Putorius rixosus), which is 
found from the Saskatchewan to Alaska, is said to 
be the smallest carnivore in the world. 
2 Pu-to'ri-us er-min'e-a. 
