The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-18
L1rrLE Brown AMERIcAN WEASEL.

LITTLE Brown AMERICAN WEASEL.
fined TO ATTITUDES south Of the Saskqtche-
wan. beyond which il did not pass. There are
nevertheless, specimens in the Smithsonian col
lection at Washington which show the weasels
extension 10 be much more noTiherly, aud that
in this case as in that Of the sable. the distin-
Ruisbed author OF the Fauna BOrcalis Ameri-
cana has underestimate the boTeal range Of
this sub genus.
Between the common weasel and ermue
structural snalOgies are IN all respects very
strict. and their dentition Is Of that type by
which these forms arc distinguished from mar
tens; that Is 10 say, they possess two more pre-
molaFs, although the development Of these
teeth is not invaria5ie.
without entering upon q diTerential dag
Dosis Of the special features by which the least
weasel and eTIlIne arc cCHtrasted, both may be
said % exhibit Characteristic rescmblauces in
their relative regional conformation, in bodily
contour shape and bulk Of limbs. form Of tail,
average cOioratIOn and seasonal changes Of coat.
Al tie same time. the limits Of individual vari-
alton with respect 10 color are very wide. and
il is probably true that. as a rule yulgars gen
orally wants the sClphary tinge visible Oh the
under surface Of the stoats body. Its tail IT,
however, round and slender aud terminates in
point.
THERE Is 20 BUSH,
and commonly, both in America and Europe
the tip is not black, though always dasky. and
often containing a considerable proportion OF
white BARS. On this continent the animal
becomes completely white iu Winter over al.
most the whole region which IL inhabits.
Alien states that such is the case in most Of
New England, but is supported by DeKay IL
denying that this alteration takes place In
Massachusetts, and New York, where Maxi
milan supposed it might take place in the
mountains. There is much discrepancy be-
tween accounts Of The stoaps average size
PrOi. Baird, FOR example, estimates its length
a. SIX inches, and DR.. Goldman II y OF -: but
- Coless opinion, six OF seven viii most ac-
euTate.y represent the common measurement
81 head and body.
A. WIS remarked, the southern border Of the
GRIMES range remains undetermined Ii IL
however totally absent from tic Middle States
and these south q them, while on tie west
north aud eEEt, u has been shown 10 extend
from the Yukon River, Fort Resolution. and
Various points Of the Hudson Bay Compauy's
territory situated iH high lalitudes thence
ranging southwark 20 &assaaLusettg tic Cats
Kills, and Long Island. Italso iuLahiis Alaska
the shores Of Lake Superior. the Upper Mis-
sour region, together with Oregon aBd Wash
iBPion
50 lar as the American weaseI's way Of life
is concerned, this Las been but little observed.
and our knowledge Of its habits is conse.
queHty quite Imperfect. The fact may be
due ln some measure 10 the extreme Warinees
and cunning sscTibed % il by DeKav. and in
virtue Of which il Is enabled 10 successfully
WlthoTa" Itself from scrutiny even Ia places
where i &bounds. biologists generally admit
that u Dis beyond measure TapaciOus aud blood
Thirsty, and most writers are also agreed about
tue KIND q prey upon which Beases subsist
tor tAe most part this consists o. small rodents
but u may be taken for granted that a weasel
viii not only XIII anything that IL can cat. but
also everything which il ID able 10 destroy.
whether Tie prey destroyed can be consumed
or not. Nice, rats, Wild birds poultry, rabbits,
mo.es, insects, the field aud water vote. etc.
are properly considered as included in lie mis-.
eeiianeous assembiage Of victims. Audubon
Imagined that It's diminutivc form
WOULD PREVENT AE ATTACK
upon creatures 80 much larger than itself AZ
arc domestic fowls aud rabbits: indeed. be
thought that 3 fullgrOBn Norway rat was more
than match Tor a weasel. In natural history,
however, II appears that size alone Is q very an
certain measure q cestTuctiyeHees, and with
respect - the rabbit, st. John saw "a tiny
weasel Kill several. Bell is to some extent
the apologist Of this murderous little creature.
but The weight Of evidence is against his con-
ciusif rs, although sometimes no doubt depre-
oailous committed by stoats are attributed To
Wcasels, and in all probability his statement
that the latter do more good than harm By
Keeping down the number Of Vermin is. from
an economical point Of view, correct. This.
however, las nothing 10 do with the animals
character which Is almost unparalleled among
the mammalia for purposeless ferocity and an
inappeasable thirst for blood. Whenever an
opportunity Offers weasel puts 10 shame the
Doctrine That faculties and feelings are direct
endoWmcnts, and so &c speak, flies Ia the faco
o. what is commonly believed concerning in
stlnct This beast is one Of the most senscicss
OF assassnsi it destroys life beyond all meas
IRE or possibility Of need, and IL its dmen-
Eions corresponded with It's disposition. would
DC among the most terrible OF living beings.
The farmer may regard fayorably creature
who avenges or prevents the loss sustained by
his granaFies and stacks, bat that Is no reason
toI extenuaiing the crimes Of his agent.
heaselE climb very well, and by this means