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The photo in "Physical Description" -> "Build" is clearly labeled "Weasel" -- 120.32.145.217 ( talk) 06:41, 9 November 2012 (UTC)
The Latin name underneath shows what it really is. Stoats are sometimes called "weasels" in America and Ireland. Mariomassone ( talk) 08:48, 9 November 2012 (UTC)
These should be properly cited before reinclusion. Kthxbai. dfg ( talk) 04:15, 28 June 2008 (UTC)
Ermine has about 3 times as many google hits as stoat, and the animal's latin name is Mustela erminea. Is there some other valid reason why this article is using the title stoat? - TheMightyQuill ( talk) 22:47, 29 July 2008 (UTC)
I think ermine is US usage, stoat UK. Certainly in the latter, ermine usually refers to the fur/pelt, or winter coat of the stoat. Not too bothered either way, but not sure why 'ermine' is capitalized throughout the article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.96.5.226 ( talk) 22:23, 9 January 2009 (UTC)
The change of name from stoat to ermine seems to violate normal Wikipedia policies, since stoat is undoubtedly the correct common name everywhere but North America, and since the article was first written under that name it ought to be retained. Furthermore using the name ermine degrades a useful distinction, between the animal in its winter and summer coats. Yet another case where the software is inadequate - these are really two titles of equal validity and it is awkward to have to privilege either. Sometimes one can escape a decision by titling an article by a systematic name rather than a common name, but to do so for such a familiar animal also goes against the grain. seglea ( talk) 14:46, 6 February 2009 (UTC)
‘the Virgin Queen’ painted with an ermine on her arm. In this painting the ermine has, unnaturally, black spots over its entire body
The above section which is found below the Queen's portrait is possibly more representative of the stoats natural colouring when in change than stated. The colour change may take only a few days in cold areas and might in warmer areas go a more patchy colour and appear more like the portait's stoat although the symmetrical nature of the coat is suspect it might have areas similar.
I assume this change in colour to be similar to that of a Siamese cat who seem to have areas of creamy coat that slowly go darker or lighter in different temperature conditions. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Parismouse ( talk • contribs) 15:33, 29 July 2009 (UTC)
I can find no evidence of it - indeed the video footage of Stoats hunting rabbits is anything but transfixing, they chase them down. I suspect this is a myth. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Derivadow ( talk • contribs) 23:59, 21 November 2009 (UTC)
The range map should include New Zealand. DGERobertson ( talk) 15:48, 12 February 2010 (UTC)
The article lacks a photograph of the stoat in its winter coat. -- B.D.Mills ( T, C) 02:08, 12 August 2010 (UTC)
Citations needed for references to ".. its mating system is promiscuous. Copulation occurs during the mating season with multiple partners and is often forced by the male, who does not help raise the offspring. Sometimes it occurs when the female is so young that she has not even left the den." I've not found anything to substantiate this. I also believe use of the word "promiscuous" is an opinion. Svsinnys ( talk) 22:11, 12 September 2010 (UTC)
The range map, being in red and green specifically, is impossible for some people with colour blindness to read at all. I'll add this to the category of articles with graphics problematic for colour blind users, in the hope that this graphic can be altered. Otherwise it's a great article. NearlyDrNash ( talk) 19:57, 14 December 2010 (UTC)
I commend the person who cites John Guillim's Display of Heraldrie in reference to the origin of "ermine" in "Armenia". Clearly, this folk etymology is of some antiquity - but it is a folk etymology all the same. Wiktionary cites the correct ancestry of the word: Middle English ermine (also ermin, ermyn), from Old French hermine (also ermine, ermin), from Old Dutch (or a close relative thereof) *harmino "ermine skin", a derivative of *harmo "stoat, weasel", from Proto-Germanic *harmōn "ermine" (compare Old English hearma "stoat, weasel, shrew(?)", Old High German harmo (adj. harmin)), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱormon (compare Romansch carmun "stoat", obsolete Lithuanian šarmuõ "stoat").
Regarding the given possible etymologies of "stoat": a borrowing from Gothic stautan "to push", while not impossible, would be so markedly unusual as to be unlikely; in addition, the semantic connection is rather weak. The "Belgic" language, given as the source of stout "bold" (actually from Old French estout "brave, fierce, proud", from earlier estolt "strong" (compare Modern High German stolz "proud, haughty, arrogant, stately")) is not clearly defined in the given link. Obscurum per obscurius ((explaining) the obscure by means of the more obscure) is the refuge of scoundrels. A more promising match can be found in the Old Norse stútr. Compare its descendants: Swedish stut "bull", Danish stud "bullock, steer", Scottish English stot "ox, bull; heifer (dialectical); inferior/worthless horse (obsolete)". The Scots language also contains a related and very relevant verb: to stot ( Stotting) "to bounce, to walk with a bounce". This appears to have some limited cognates (Dutch stuiteren, Swedish studsa (both "to bounce")). The bounding gait of mustelids can well be described, in terms of "walking with a bounce", as "stotting".
174.91.140.173 ( talk) 19:26, 1 December 2012 (UTC) (Casey Goranson)
Allow me to produce some links to Old French documents containing "estout":
1) Medieval France: An Encyclopedia — https://books.google.ca/books?id=MQoKeohhNkMC&pg=PA620&lpg=PA620&dq=Old+French+%22estout%22&source=bl&ots=M48OCzAeFt&sig=MkvF8yCdvv0bFbmjSzildybLpM4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SmNlVc2iBMGxsATZyoK4Bg&ved=0CDIQ6AEwBDgU#v=onepage&q=Old%20French%20%22estout%22&f=false
2) Constructions of Childhood and Youth in Old French Narrative — https://books.google.ca/books?id=wTtI-gEUQFEC&pg=PA165&lpg=PA165&dq=Old+French+%22estout%22&source=bl&ots=jWyQwrdeNk&sig=No8J-lvRqK0vawteBjPE2TvpuU0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=emdlVa6kIcmxsAT8zoC4Bw&ved=0CEEQ6AEwCDge#v=onepage&q=Old%20French%20%22estout%22&f=false
3) Jehan Renart: Le lai de l'ombre (line 84) — http://www.liv.ac.uk/media/livacuk/modern-languages-and-cultures/liverpoolonline/ombre.pdf
And for the connection between "stout" and "estout": https://books.google.ca/books?id=8GcCAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=Old+French+%22estout%22&source=bl&ots=qjnMcgDAIu&sig=u-5MymW3dv4QpKfprh68ekstNEM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=32dlVZuZKKbfsATLzYDoAg&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAjgo#v=onepage&q=estout&f=false
104.204.246.128 ( talk) 06:53, 27 May 2015 (UTC)
Not mentioned in article. Is this a former genus, or what is it? 109.157.79.50 ( talk) 23:07, 19 January 2015 (UTC)
This sentence has no citations and smacks of outright national aggrandizement: "The Soviet Union also contained the highest grades of stoat pelts, with the best grade North American pelts being comparable only to the 9th grade in the quality criteria of former Soviet stoat standards." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 27.252.66.102 ( talk) 23:54, 12 July 2016 (UTC)