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MUSTELA PENNANTI, (Erxleben). 



THE FISHER, BLACK OAT, PESAN, OR PENNANTS MARTEN. 



Specific Character. — Legs, belly, tail, and hinder part of back, black ; the 

 back with an increasing proportion of grayish white to the head. Length over 

 two feet. Vertebrae of tail exceeding twelve inches. 



Habitat. — Eastern and Central and Pacific regions northward to the Arctic 

 circle. 



Average Size. — Equal to a fox about two-thirds grown. 



Average Weight. — 10 to 15 pounds. 



Average Height. — 9 inches. 



Average Length. — 2| feet. 



Value of Fur. — Per skin, average 82 to $5. 



The .general appearance of this animal is more fox-like than musteline in 

 the long head, bushy tail, and large size. 



The muzzle is quite large, the ears low but very wide, and the eyes very 

 large. The feet are short and stout, and well armed with strong claws ; there is 

 a naked ball under the end of each of the live toes, and another V shaped one on 

 the palm and soles. The tail is long, rather shorter than the body without head 

 and neck, thick and bushy at the base, and tapering uniformly to an acute tip. 



The fur is valuable and is much in demand. 



The fisher is a ready climber and is very partial to water. Its food con- 

 sists chiefly of mice and other small animals, and it is said not unfrequently to 

 kill fish. 



Its habits are destructive, and for this reason, although it is supposed to be 

 easily tamed, it never becomes really domestic. 



The young are born in June, the female generally producing three or four at 

 a birth. 



24 (c.) 



