Fisher 935 



behaviour of the two animals are so much aHke that the oldest 

 hunters cannot tell from the race, or from the dogs, which 

 animal has been started. 



Some interesting observations on this head are contributed 

 by Bachman:'^ "Whilst residing [he says] in the northern 

 part of our native State (New York), thirty-five years ago 

 [about 1 8 14], the hunters were in the habit of bringing us two 

 or three specimens of this Marten in the course of a winter. 

 They obtained them by following their tracks in the snow, 

 when the animals had been out in quest of food on the previous 

 night, thus tracing them to the hollow trees in which they were 

 concealed, which they chopped down. They informed us that 

 as a tree was falling the Fisher would dart from the hollow, 

 which was often 50 feet from the ground, and leap into the 

 snow, when the dogs usually seized and killed them, although 

 not without a hard struggle, as the Fisher was infinitely 

 more dangerous to their hounds than either the Gray- or 

 Red-fox." 



When caught in a steel trap, the Pekan has frequently 

 been known to foot itself — that is, gnaw ofi^ the imprisoned limb 

 — realizing that it is better to go through a long life halt and 

 maimed than to depart at once on four feet for the Happy 

 Hunting Grounds. Our Maine trapper says:'" "I once 

 caught one with only two legs; he had been trapped twice 

 before and lost a leg each time." 



Although it ranks among our most nocturnal animals, it is 

 known to hunt occasionally by day. Bachman tells of a 

 Fisher that he saw hunting a Gray-squirrel in broad daylight. 

 Many other observers, including myself, have observed it 

 travelling or hunting when the sun was up. 



Knowing its unaquatic reputation, I was surprised to swim- 

 learn from George Linklater that he has often seen this animal 

 swimming rivers and lakes; in fact, it does not hesitate to do so 

 when across seems the easiest way round. 



" Q. N. A., i84g, Vol. I, p. 310. 



'" J. G. R., Bethel, Me., F. & S., June 24, i886. 



