APPENDIX. 491 



price, being sold largely in England under the name of 

 " sable ;" the real Russian sable rarely or never finding 

 its way into our fur-shops. 



The Pekan, or Fisher. Mustela Canadensis. (Linn.) 



F. B. A. 1. p. 52. 



Notwithstanding the name of fisher, this animal does 

 not seek its prey in the water ; but entirely resembles 

 the pine-martin in its habits. Its greater size, the colour 

 and coarseness of its fur, distinguish it from the latter. 

 The skins of the pekan are called " woodshocks" at the 

 Hudson's Bay Company's sales. 



The Skunk. Mephitis Americana. (Sabine.) F. B. 



A. 1. p. 55. 



A full, bushy tail, long black hair, and a broad white 

 stripe along each side, give the skunk a pleasing appear- 

 ance ; but the odour of the fluid it discharges when in 

 danger is so disgusting that few people can summon 

 resolution to approach it. The early French settlers in 

 Canada evinced their abhorrence of this otherwise 

 harmless animal, by terming it "V enfant dn diable." 

 Clothes tainted by the fluid it secretes are but imper- 

 fectly purified after they have been buried in the earth 

 for many days. The skunk is said to hybernate under 

 the snow. It runs slowly ; and, but for its peculiar 

 means of defence, would be easily destroyed by its nume- 

 rous enemies. Dogs hunt it eagerly; but when they are 

 just on the point of seizing it, a single discharge of its 

 nauseous liquor puts them to flight. 



