Fisher 
being all animals of the more northern States, or of the moun- 
tainous regions. 
Fisher 
Mustela pennantit Erxleben 
Called also Fisher Marten, Pekan. 
Length. 3 feet. 
Description. Larger and heavier than the weasels and minks, with 
longer and bushier tail. Grizzly grayish brown, lighter on the 
fore part of the body and darker brown posteriorly; tip of the 
eset darker also on the throat and legs; tai! full and 
ushy. 
Range. Boreal regions of eastern North America southward 
through the Alleghanies; an allied variety replaces it to the 
westward. 
The fisher is by far the largest of the martens as well as one 
of the handsomest, a long-bodied, vigorous hunter, with the agility 
of a sable and the strength of a wolverine. 
Possessing many of the habits of the pine marten, he has a 
shrewder intelligence and greater boldness in hunting; for he man- 
ages somehow to kill the Canadian porcupine in defiance of his 
spiny armour, and will circumvent a savage old she bear and kill 
her cubs while she is away. It is said that the fishers of the Rocky 
Mountain region even kill young grizzlies in this manner. The 
fisher’s private hunting grounds are gloomy hemlock and_ spruce 
covered hills and ridges, where they cover immense distances in a 
single night, traveling by bounds, nose in the air, to catch every 
scent that is in the wind. 
They are as much at home in the tree-tops as are the pine 
martens, and climb to where the partridges roost, and catch them 
in their sleep. 
Hares’ flesh is their regular diet, but they vary this accord- 
ing to the season and as their appetites and the fortunes of the 
chase shall determine, their bill of fare ranging from insects and 
dead fish to bear meat and young venison. 
They are also fond of beechnuts like the pine marten, and will 
go long distances for a sprig of catnip, just as the mink or wild- 
cat will, or an ordinary domestic tabbie. 
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