Fisher 



being all animals of the more northern States, or of the moun- 

 tainous regions. 



Fisher 



Mustela pennanti Erxleben 

 Called also Fisher Marten, Pekan. 



Length. 3 feet. 



Description. Larger and heavier than the weasels and minks, with 

 longer and bushier tail. Grizzly grayish brown, lighter on the 

 fore part of the body and darker brown posteriorly; tip of the 

 tail black; darker also on the throat and legs; tail full and 

 bushy. 



Range. Boreal regions of eastern North America southward 

 through the Alleghanies; an allied variety replaces it to the 

 westward. 



The fisher is by far the largest of the martens as well as one 

 of the handsomest, a long-bodied, vigorous hunter, with the agility 

 of a sable and the strength of a wolverine. 



Possessing many of the habits of the pine marten, he has a 

 shrewder intelligence and greater boldness in hunting; for he man- 

 ages somehow to kill the Canadian porcupine in defiance of his 

 spiny armour, and will circumvent a savage old she bear and kill 

 her cubs while she is away. It is said that the fishers of the Rocky 

 Mountain region even kill young grizzlies in this manner. The 

 fisher's private hunting grounds are gloomy hemlock and spruce 

 covered hills and ridges, where they cover immense distances in a 

 single night, traveling by bounds, nose in the air, to catch every 

 scent that is in the wind. 



They are as much at home in the tree-tops as are the pine 

 martens, and climb to where the partridges roost, and catch them 

 in their sleep. 



Hares' flesh is their regular diet, but they vary this accord- 

 ing to the season and as their appetites and the fortunes of the 

 chase shall determine, their bill of fare ranging from insects and 

 dead fish to bear meat and young venison. 



They are also fond of beechnuts like the pine marten, and will 

 go long distances for a sprig of catnip, just as the mink or wild- 

 cat will, or an ordinary domestic tabbie. 



241 



