CARNIVORA. 
131 
THE WATER POLECAT, CALLED ALSO THE SMALLER 
OTTER. LE MINK OU NOREK. 
Mustela Lutreola. Pallas. 
This animal is found on the banks of rivers, in the 
north and east of Europe, from the Arctic Ocean to 
the Black Sea, as well as in America. In autumn it 
frequents the rivers and lakes, and in spring the 
torrents. It feeds principally on fish, frogs, crawfish, 
and aquatic insects. It has the feet semipalmate 5 
but its teeth correspond with those of the polecat 
tribe rather than with the otters, and its tail is round ; 
whence it may with propriety be named the water 
polecat. Its general colour is brown, but the jaws 
are white. It emits a scent of musk, 
Pallas thinks this is the minx of America. It is 
named tutucuri by the Zealanders ; ncers by the Prus- 
sians ; and the skin is called mcenk by the furriers. 
It is very like the sable, and is sometimes fraudulently 
sold for it, although it is by some highly prized, and 
very much esteemed. 
