930 



Life-histories of Northern Animals 



ABUN- 

 DANCE 



Nowhere in all its extensive range can the Fisher be 

 styled abundant, yet Hardy says:' "It is by no means a rare 

 animal in Maine, being about as plentiful back from the settle- 

 ments as Otter. When in the fur-trade I used to buy 175 to 

 200 skins annually. While these were not all taken in Maine, 

 I think, from the best data I could get, that the annual catch 

 of Maine was 1 50 to 300. The catch varies greatly in different 

 years, just as that of Sable does, as some years both take bait 

 better than others." 



The mating is believed to take place about the first of 

 March, and I find among trappers a prevailing opinion that the 

 species pairs. 



The animal is so scarce, and its nest so well concealed, that 

 the latter has but rarely been found. It is usually made in a 

 hollow tree at considerable height from the ground, 30 or 40 

 feet, but has been found in logs and rocky crevices. Although 

 a Fisher is larger bodied than a Fox, it can readily enter a hole 

 but 4 or 5 inches in diameter. 



The young are born about the first of May. They number 

 from I to 5, 2 to 3 being usual. The only litter I ever saw con- 

 sisted of 3. 



In May, 1899, a nest was discovered by some Indians in 

 the woods north of Lake Winnipeg. It was, as usual, in the 

 hollow of a standing tree and about 40 feet up. The young, 3 

 in number, were bought by N. E. Skinner, in whose possession 

 I saw them at Winnipeg on August 7 of that year. They were 

 then about half grown and exceedingly playful. They showed 

 plainly their Marten affinities, and yet had a close resemblance 

 to a family of Silver-foxes, consequently I was not surprised to 

 read in Kennicott's account that the species has in some parts 

 been called the 'Black-fox.' 



While quite small the young appear to quit the nest and 

 follow the mother, like young Martens. Professor Spencer F. 

 Baird tells" of an old female and one well-grown young one 



' See Note 4. " Aud. & Bach., Quad. N. A., 1849, Vol. I, pp. 312-13. 



