72 NORTH AMERICAN MUSTELID.E. 



double tlieir size. To judge by tbem, the animal advances by 

 sbort leaps in tbe manner of a mink." 



I will supplement tbis account witb tbe interesting experi- 

 ences of Mr. B. K. Eoss (as recounted I. s. c.) witb tbis species 

 in tbe Mackenzie River region : — " In tbis district it is not found 

 except in tbe vicinity of Fort Resolution, wbicb may be con- 

 sidered as its nortbern limit. In tbe numerous deltas of tbe 

 moutb of Slave River it is abundant, frequenting tbe large 

 grassy marsbes or prairies, for tbe purpose of catcbing mice, its 

 l)riucipal food. In appearance it bears a strong family likeness 

 to botb tbe martin and tbe wolverene. Its general sbape assimi- 

 lates more to tbe former, but tbe bead and ears bave a greater 

 similitude to tbose of tbe latter. It is named by tbe Cbippe- 

 wayan Indians 'Tba cbo,' or great martin. Its neck, legs and 

 feet are stouter in proportion tban tbose of tbe martin, and its 

 claws mucb stronger. In color and size it varies greatly. Young 

 full-furred specimens, or tbose born tbe previous spring, can 

 scarcely be distiuguisbed from a large martin except by a 

 darker pelage and a less full, more pointed tail. As it advances 

 towards old age, tbe color of tbe fur grows ligbter, tbe long 

 bairs become coarser, and tbe grayisb markings are of greater 

 extent and more conspicuous. 



"Tbe largest fisber wbicb I bave seen was killed b}' myself 

 on tbe Riviere de Argent, one of tbe cbannels of tbe moutb of 

 Slave River, about 15 miles from Fort Resolution. It was fully 

 as long as a Fulvus fox, mucb more muscular, and weigbed 18 

 pounds. In tbe color of its fur tbe greyisb tints preponderated, 

 extending from balf way down tbe back to tbe nose. Tbe fur 

 was comparatively coarse; tbougb tbick and full. Tbe tail was 

 long and pointed, and tbe wbole sbade of tbe pelage was very 

 ligbt and bad ratber a faded look. Its claws were very strong 

 and of brown color; and as if to mark its extreme old age tbe 

 teeth were a good deal worn and very mucb decayed. I caugbt 

 it witb difficulty. For about two weeks it bad been infesting 

 my martin road, tearing down tbe traps and devouring tbe 

 baits. So resolved to destroy it, I made a strong wooden trap. 

 It climbed up tbis, entered from above, and ate the meat. A 

 gun was next set but with no better success, it cut the line 

 and ran off witb tbe bone that was tied to tbe end of it. As a 

 * dernier resort' I put a steel trap in the middle of the road, 

 covered it carefully, and set a bait at some distance on each 

 side. Into tbis it tumbled. From tbe size of its footprints my 



