View source for Ermine

[[image:ermine.png|thumb|right]]One of the [[fur]]s used as a [[tincture]] ([[colour]]) in [[heraldry]]. It consists of black (''[[sable]]'') ermine spots on a white (''[[argent]]'') field.

The inverse (white on black) is called ''[[counter-ermine]]'' or ''ermines''.


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==== Natural history ====

The ''ermine'' or short-tailed weasel, whose skins are represented by the heraldic tincture (the black spots representing either the little legs and feet, or the black-ended tail), lives in cold regions of North America and [[Europe]].  They measure about 10" plus about a 3" tail.  They are yellow-brown most of the year but grow a snow-white coat in winter.  Their skins were prized as [[clothing]] decoration.

They should not be confused with the similar creature on the Discworld, the ''vermine'', a small black and white relative of the lemming, whose skin is also highly valued, not least by the vermine itself, which will do almost anything to keep possession of it.

[[Category:Device heraldry]]