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mens): tail vertebre fifteen (Gerrard), varying in length from oné t6 two 
inches. 
Description and Habits.-This Weasel differs from its ally, P. ermineus, 
in its smaller size and the general dimensions of the tail. In the “rmine 
this member is at all seasons brushy, and conspicuously black-tipped for 
about two-fifths of its total length. | 
The mahogany-brown of the Weasel tuins to white in winter in 
northern New England; but this change, according to Mr. J. A. Allen, 
does not occur as far south as in Massachusetts, where it sometimes takes 
place in the Ermine. 
Of the habits of the Weasel in America little is known j they proba- 
bly do not differ essentially from the same species in Europe or Asia. 
Although not common in collections, and rather rarely taken at pres: 
ent, Audubon represents it as a common animal, feeding on small 
rodents, insects, eggs, and young birds. 
The accompanying account of its habits is drawn from the writings of 
Thomas Bell, and is at the same time interesting and reliable: 
““The Weasel climbs trees with great facility, and surprises birds on the nest, sucks 
the eggs, of carries off the young. *~ * * 
““T have observed that when the Weasel seizes a small animal, at the instant that the 
fatal bite is inflicted, it throws its long, lithe body over its prey, so as to secure it should the 
first bite fail; an accident, however, which I have never observed when a Mouse has 
been the victim. The power which the Weasel has of bending the head at right angles 
with the long and flexible, though powerful neck, gives it great advantage in this mode 
of killing and seizing its smalier prey. It also frequently assumes this position when 
raising itself on its hinder legs to look around. 
‘“The disposition which has been attributed to the Weasel of sucking the blood of its 
prey, has, I believe, been generally much exaggerated. * * * ‘he first gripe is given 
on the head, the tooth, in ordinary cases, piercing the brain, which it is the Weasel’s first 
act of Epicurism to eat clean from the skull. The carcase is then hidden near its haunt, 
to be resorted to when required, and part of it often remains until it is nearly putrid. 
‘The Weasel pursues its prey with facility into smatl holes, and amongst the close 
and tangled herbage of coppices, thickets, and hedgesrows. It follows the Mole and the 
Field Mouse in their runs ; it threads the mazes formed in the wheat-rick by the colonies 
of Mice which infest it; ard its long, Hexible body, its extraordinary length of neck, 
the closeness of its fur, and its extreme agility and quickness of movement, combine to 
adapt it to such habits, in which it is also much aided by its power of hunting by scent— 
a quality which it partakes in equal degree with the Stoat. In pursuing a rat or a 
mouse, therefore, it not only follows it as long as it remains within sight, but continues 
the chase after it has disappeared, with the head raised a little above the ground, fol- 
lowing the exact track recently taken by its destined prey. Should it lose the scent, it 
returns to the point where it was lost, and quarters the ground with great diligence 
till it has recovered it; and thus, by dint of perseverence, will ultimately hunt down 
a Swifter and even a stronger animal than itself. But this is not all. Inthe pertinacity 
of its pursuit it will readily take the water, and swim with great ease after its prey. 
