ANIMALS OP NORTH AMERICA. 



29 



and waving tail, but that tail is now suddenly curled over 

 the back, its pace is slackened, and in one instant the con- 

 dition of things is entirely reversed ; the lately triumphant 

 pursuer is eagerly flying from his intended prize, involved in 

 an atmosphere of stench, too stifling to be endured." 



The FISHER (Mustela Canademis), although twenty 

 years ago numerous, is now becoming scarce. It is known 

 and described also under the title of " Pennant's Marten :" 

 but among the many inaccuracies common to ordinary works 

 on Natural History, is its name "the Fisher;" for this 

 would lead one to infer that its habits are aquatic. Hearne, 

 however, states that it manifests as much repugnance to 

 water as a cat. It is said to have received this appellation 

 from its fondness for the fish used for baiting traps. The 

 early hunters about Lake Oneida were in the habit of soaking 

 their fish over night, and leaving it to drain preparatory to 

 using it ; this was frequently carried off by the gentleman in 

 question, whose tracks were plainly seen around, and it has, 

 like the wolverine, been known to follow a " sable-line," de- 

 stroying twelve out of thirteen traps in one night, in a trail 

 fourteen miles long. It climbs trees easily, living in their 

 hollow trunks, and prefers marshy, woody swamps, near water- 

 courses and lakes. It is not unlike the European polecat. 



The SABLE (Mustela Martis) is a very active, pretty 

 little animal, inhabiting the elevated woody districts of the 

 North : it is very scarce wherever civilization extends, but 

 was seen abundantly in Oregon, by Lewis and Clarke. It 

 has never been known to become domesticated. It takes 

 up its quarters in trees, and is very carnivorous, living 

 principally upon squirrels. Hunters state that the further 

 North it is met with, the darker is its fur ; they also affirm 

 that in the beech-nut season it will never touch bait, carefully 

 avoiding their traps, and that it becomes excessively fat at 

 this time ; we may however conclude that it does not use 

 the beech or other nuts as food, but probably fattens itself 



