HUNTING THE FISliER. 



883 



THE FISHU. 



CHAPTER LXII. 



HUNTING THE FISHER. 



THE Fisher, or Black Cat of our hunters is a large and power 

 ful animal, standing nearly a foot from the ground. It was 

 formerly very abundant in the Middle States, but is now confined 

 o the thinly settled Northern districts. It is a nocturnal species, 

 ind lives chiefly on the smaller quadrupeds, but also devours 

 frogs, fish and serpents. It climbs with great ease, and takes up 

 its abode in the trunk of a tree. The form of the body is typical. 

 Head broad ; nose acute ; ears about three inches from the nose, 

 broad, rounded and distant ; the fore feet are shorter than the hind 

 ones, and the soles of both are covered with short hair ; the tail i* 

 long and bushy, and the fur very fine and lustrous ; the color is 

 grayish over the head and anterior parts of the body ; dark browo 

 o* black behind. 



