great noise among the dry leaves and carrying its head 
high still holding the mouse between its teeth. Following 
the line of alders it finally came to an old stone wall 
in which it at once disappeared. After a minute or two it 
reappeared without the mouse (?) and retraced its course 
almost exactly to and across the pond. On reaching the high 
'^high bank it disappeared in a hole at its base. I waited 
until my patience gave out, then went to the bank and 
sat down on a stone. Presently there was a movement within 
a yard of me and the slender dark head and long lithe neck 
appeared between two alder stems. The Mink evidently smelt 
but could not see me (although there was nothing between 
us). It waved its head about and I could see its nose 
vibrate as it sniffed the air. Finally it bounded to the 
water's edge and dove from the bank, making scarcely more 
plash than a rising minnow would have done. Coming to the 
surface a few yards off it recrossed the pond and ran to 
3r the wall again.-f" I followed and guided by the rustling 
which it made among the dry leaves approached within a 
yard of the spot where it was walking about among the 
loose stones. Once or twice it thrust up its head and 
neck but apparently without seeing me. Twice I distinctly 
heard either it or its young (for I believe it had young 
among the stones and took the mouse there to feed them) 
make a low breathing hiss. This Mink was of the normal 
coloring and very unlike the one I saw in March. It had a 
small white streak on the under side of the chin. 
