Put or i us

(pu-to're-us.) (Zool.) The Weasels, a gen. of carnivorous animals, fam. Must elide, characterized by a very slender body, long tail, and 34 teeth. The Black Mink of the U. States, P. nigrescens, is abt. 10 inches long to the tail, which is abt. 5 inches. Its color is chestnut brown glo ed with black; the tail almost entirely black, and the end of the chin white. This species furnishes the most valuable of the mink furs. The furs sold under the name of American Sable are mink. The Least Weasel, P. pusillus, from New York to Puget's Sound, is 6 inches long to the tail, which is le than 2 inches; the color brown above, white beneath. The Ferret, P. furor, of Spain and Barbary, is celebrated from its being employed to ferret out rabbits from their holes. See ERMINE. [s. 743]