.xA—
An Article/
THE \JHISTLI!K> 'JEASEL
1 j
/Bv Georee T.Masury/1
inis pecuiiar species of the weasel family isonly found in theArctic
North and ranges over all the barren ground beyond the tree limit, including
tiie coastal tundra belx from the Alaska Peninsula to Bering Straits and the
frozen seas beyond the S3rd decree of latitude*
Whistling Weasel (scientifically known as Weaseleenus Soundoffus)
has one of themost peculiar feeding apparatuses known *:o the animal kingdom
in order that it may sustain itself under the rigorous winter conditions as
it feeds upon the minute animaicula which float in the ** tic air, Nature hav
ing endowed it with a skin like tissue which stretches across its throat* To
feed the weasel runs with mouth open, the air passing through the skin stretch
ed across its throat, the microscopic organisms being caught as in a sieve,
similar to the manner in which a whale feeds*
As the Whistling Weasel is a vociferous eater and as much air must
be strained through its skin sieve to obtain a full feed, it is interesting
to watch them at their meal* For days at a time they run with mouth agape
the faster they run, the more food they get, until at full flight the air
rushing through the sieve and out through their ears produces a full, reson
ant tone not unlike the 'rtiistle of a sea-going steamer, hence its name*
Since primitive days, bfore the arrival of civilised man in their
haunts, Whi 3tling Weasels were of great importance to the coastal natives
who guided their bidarkas from the nigged rocks along the jagged shore dur
ing the long winter nights, being warned by the 'riiistle of 1he weasel at
feed*
Huk-wook, the famous native poet, apeaks of thorn ia his classical
poem:
wOgg-chuck, woo glub,
Hu, chig wak, wak lM
• Which, translated, neans in our language:
"All night the hurttters heard
Hie deep whistle-like tune
As the Whistling Weasel hunted
3eneath the arctic moon*”
The advent of the steam whaler, however, made this signal untrust
worthy as several of the native crafts were wrecked by being mislead by the
steamer*ss whistle.
The Whistling Weasel has but one young to which it shows much materna]
affection, a case being cited by Professor Ii« T, Meskit, B.V.D., S.O.L.,
etc., in which the mother, in trying to whistle the baby to sleep, ran her
self to death.
DAYS OF *98—A.3. HALL—SATURDAY NIGHT, MARCH 1st, 8:00 ?«!!•—Auspices of
MOOSE LODGE