236 
TAWNY WEASEL. 
white in winter, but the former underwent no change in colour, remaining 
brown. On another occasion a specimen of a brown Weasel was brought 
to us in the month of December. At that season the ermines are invariably 
white. We cannot after the lapse of so many years say with certainty 
whether these specimens of Weasels that were brown in winter were those 
of the smaller, Putorius pusillus, or the present species ; although we believe 
from our recollection of the size they were the latter. We therefore feel 
almost warranted in saying that this species does not change colour in 
winter. 
We were in the habit of substituting our American Weasels for the 
European ferrets, in driving out the gray rabbit ( Lepus sylvaticus ) from the 
holes to which that species usually resorts in the northern States, when 
pursued by dogs (see vol. i. p. 59). Whilst the ermines seemed to relish 
this amusement vastly, the brown Weasel refused to enter the holes, and 
we concluded that the latter was the least courageous animal. 
On one occasion we saw six or seven young Weasels dug out by dogs 
from under the roots of a tree in a swamp, which we believe to have been 
of this species. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
The specimens which we have seen of this animal all came from different 
parts of the State of New York. We have however heard of the existence 
of a Weasel which is brown in winter in the States of Ohio and Michigan, 
which we have reason to believe is the present species. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
Our early writers on natural history -were under the impression that we 
had but one, or at farthest two species of Weasel in our country. 
Godman supposed that there was but one Weasel in North America, and 
that it was the common Weasel in summer, but was the ermine in summer 
pelage, turning white in winter. Harlan gave Desmarest’s description 
of the European Mustela vulgaris , supposing that animal to exist in our 
country. 
Richardson gave two species as belonging to North America, one of 
which he supposed to be identical with the common Weasel of Europe. It 
is now ascertained that we have at least five species in the United States, 
four of which are found in the State of New York. 
