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MUSTELA PENNANTI, (Erx.epen). 
THE FISHER, BLACK CAT, PEKAN, 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. Vertebre 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 $2 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 five 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 isa 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. } 
