ZOOLOGY. 41 



The district in which it occurs, if not exclusively, certainly most abundantly, is that including 

 the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada, on the eastern side of the great trough of the San Joaquin 

 and Sacramento. In this half wooded region, the home of the gold hunter, it is well known, 

 and apparently has much the character given by Audubon to the same animal in Texas. The 

 miner calls it the " mountain cat ;" it frequently enters his tent and plunders his provision bag. 

 When caught, as it often is, it becomes so familiar and amusing, and does so much to relieve 

 the monotony of the miner's life, that it is highly valued, and commands quite a large price. 



The bassaris is, perhaps, equally efficient as a mouser with the common cat ; is much more 

 playful, and to a large number of the members of every community who are cat haters might be 

 a desirable substitute. 



MUSTELA AMERICANA, Tnrton. 



American Sable ; Pine Marten. 



Mustda americanus, Tueton's Linnaeus, I, 1806, 60. 



Baikd, Gen. Eep. Mammals, 1857, 152. 

 Mustela martes, Jos. Sabine, Zool. App. to Narr. Franklin's Journey, 1823, 651. 



Avd. & Bach. N. A. Quad. Ill, 1853, 176 ; pi. exxxviii, (L. Huron.) 



Sp. Cii. — Legs and tail blackish. General color reddish yellow, clouded with black ; above becoming lighter towards the 

 head, which is sometimes white. A broad yellowish patch on the throat, widening below so as to touch the legs. Central 

 line of belly sometimes yellowish. Tail vertebra; about one-third the head and body. Outstretched hind feet reach about 

 to the middle of the tail with the hairs. Feet densely furred. 



We obtained two specimens of the pine marten on the head waters of the Des Chutes river, 

 in Oregon. They were in a small pine tree ; one was shot, and the other killed by a blow with 

 a club as he descended. From the Indians, and from the officers of the Hudson's Bay Com- 

 pany, I learned that the animal is not uncommon in Oregon and Washington Territories, and 

 that considerable numbers of their skins are annually brought in by the hunters. In California 

 it would seem to be more rare, as we saw and heard nothing of it while on our march. Bartee 

 told me, however, that he had on one occasion met with it while mining gold on Yuba river, in 

 that State. The miners were in great want of food, their supply of provisions having failed, in 

 which emergency Bartee had started out with his rifle in search of game. He found nothing to 

 shoot, however, but three pine martens, all in one tree, two of which he killed, the third 

 escaping. When taken into camp, skinned and cooked, the half starved miners tried to eat 

 them, but they proved so tough and unsavory that they were thrown away in disgust. 



MUSTELA PENNANTII, Erxl. 

 Fisher; Black Cat. 



Baikd, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 149. 



We did not meet with the fisher living, but saw many skins of individuals which had been 

 killed in Washington and Oregon Territories. 



It is very rare in Oregon, more common in Washington Territory and in the British 

 provinces, but nowhere at the west abundant. 



At the Klamath lakes we found the natives using quivers for their arrows made from the 

 .skin of the fisher. I saw but one or two of these skins, however, most of those in possession of 

 the Indians being of lynx, otter, raccoon, wolf, dog, &c. 



G BB 



