Stoat

The stoat (Mustela erminea), also known as the short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelidae native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip. The name ermine is often, but not always, used for the animal in its pure white winter coat, or the fur thereof. In the late 19th century, stoats were introduced into New Zealand to control rabbits. The stoats have had a devastating effect on native bird populations (see stoats in New Zealand).

It is classed by the IUCN as least concern, due to its wide circumpolar distribution, and because it does not face any significant threat to its survival. It was nominated as one of the world's top 100 "worst invaders".

Ermine luxury fur was used by Catholic monarchs in the 15th century, who sometimes used it as the mozetta cape. It was also used in capes on images such as the Infant Jesus of Prague.

Etymology

The root word for "stoat" is likely either the Belgic and Dutch word stout ("naughty") or the Gothic word stautan ("to push"). According to John Guillim, in his Display of Heraldrie, the word "ermine" is likely derived from Armenia, the nation where it was thought the species originated, though other authors have linked it to the Norman French from the Teutonic harmin (Anglo-Saxon hearma). This seems to come from the Lithuanian word šarmu. In Ireland (where the least weasel does not occur), the stoat is referred to as weasel, while in North America it is called short-tailed weasel. A male stoat is called a dog, hob, or jack, while a female is called a bitch or jill. The collective noun for stoats is either gang or pack.

Ermine (heraldry)

Ermine (/ˈɜːrmɪn/) in heraldry is a "fur", or varied tincture, consisting of a white background with a pattern of black shapes representing the winter coat of the stoat (a species of weasel with white fur and a black-tipped tail). The linings of medieval coronation cloaks and some other garments, usually reserved to use by high-ranking peers and royalty, were made by sewing many ermine furs together to produce a luxurious white fur with patterns of hanging black-tipped tails. Due largely to the association of the ermine fur with the linings of coronation cloaks, crowns and peerage caps, the heraldic tincture of ermine was usually reserved to similar applications in heraldry (i.e., the linings of crowns and chapeaux and of the royal canopy).

Ermine spots

The ermine spot, the conventional heraldic representation of the tail, has had a wide variety of shapes over the centuries; its most usual representation has three tufts at the end (bottom), converges to a point at the root (top), and is attached by three studs. When "ermine" is specified as the tincture of the field (or occasionally of a charge), the spots are part of the tincture itself, rather than a semé or pattern of charges. The ermine spot (so specified), however, may also be used singly as a mobile charge, or as a mark of cadency signifying the absence of a blood relationship.

Ermine (disambiguation)

Ermine is the common name for the stoat (Mustela erminea), more especially in its white winter coat

Ermine may also refer to:

Ermine (heraldry), the white winter fur and black tail end of the stoat, which is historically worn by and associated with royalty and high officials

"Ermine marks" are dark patches of color on the white limb of a horse, just above the level of the hoof

Ermine moth, a family of moths

Ermine, a northern suburb of Lincoln, England

Ermine Street, a Roman Road running from London to Lincoln and York

Ermine, Kentucky, a town in the U.S. state of Kentucky

Ermine (band), a Canadian progressive rock band

Ermine (organisation), British education management organisation owning Pimley School, Pakistan

Murra, Nueva Segovia

Murra is a municipality in the Nueva Segovia Department of Nicaragua.

Murra is a small municipal head in the department of Nueva Segovia. The tiny pueblo has a population of approximately 1,000 inhabitants and is made up of four barrios (neighborhoods) squeezed into a narrow valley high in the mountains. The people in Murra make their living primarily farming corn and beans and raising coffee. Although its population is small, Murra is the center for many rural communities (about 17,000 people in total live throughout the entire municipal region) so many people also make a living as shop owners and vendors. Situated in a high mountainous region, Murras climate is significantly cooler than much of Nicaragua. Murra has electricity and a running water system. There are several pulperias (shops) in Murra, three comedores (restaurants) and two hospedajes (very small hotels). The community has one Catholic and two Protestant churches.

External links

Photos of Murra — @ Adventures of a GoodMan