940 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



that a Fisher had surprised a Raccoon at a feast. A hard 

 chase had ensued, the Raccoon tacking at full speed to avoid 

 his pursuer, the Fisher outrunning and continually confront- 

 ing his intended victim. I saw where at length the Fisher 

 had made an assault, and where a bloody contest had 

 evidently ensued. The Raccoon, worsted in the encounter, 

 had again broken away, and the chase was resumed, but 

 with diminished energy on the part of the Raccoon; the 

 animal had been soon overtaken again, and a still more 

 desperate encounter had taken place. The Coon had failed 

 fast, and it had at length become merely a running fight, 

 when both animals had entered a swamp where it was impossi- 

 ble for me to trace them further, but I have no doubt the Coon 

 was killed. I have witnessed similar engagements between the 

 Mink and Muskrat, the Weasel and the House-rat, always 

 ending in the death of the assaulted. The Fisher has been 

 nearly extinct in these parts for about twenty-five years, and 

 this, to my mind, accounts for the great increase in numbers of 

 the Raccoon.'" 



LYNX- Lewis and Clark-^ ascribe a similar habit to the Fisher of 



Oregon; and we have already seen that this doughty desperado 

 can sometimes fight off^ a number of dogs. Yet one step 

 farther: The Indians say that a Fisher will kill a Lynx. 

 Linklater, my principal informant on the subject, never saw 

 a case, but was inclined to believe it, as he had had much 

 experience with both animals and knew their relative merits. 



DEER- Now since the Pekan's prowess is demonstrated and its 



fighting fame proclaimed, we are prepared for the following 

 from the pen of Manly Hardy;*^ 



"In spite of their small size and light weight. Fishers not 

 only kill Deer, but can and do kill those of the largest size. 

 When I first heard of this I doubted it, but know now that they 

 often do it. A year ago last fall, my old friend, Louis Ketcham, 

 was following the track of a large buck near the head of 



" And. & Bach., Quad. N. A., 1849, I, p. 313. " See Note 4. 



KILLER 



