r 



PENNANT'S MARTEN OR FISHER. 311 



The only opportunity that was ever afforded us of judging of the 

 speed of the Fisher occurred near the Virginia Gray-Sulphur Springs, in 

 1839. We had ascended Peter's Mountain in search of rare plants for 

 our herbarium ; out of health and fatigued, we had for some time vbeen 

 seated on a rock to rest, M'hen -we observed a gray squirrel pass within 

 ten feet of us, seemingly in a great fright, and with all the speed it could 

 command, with a Fisher in full pursuit. They were both too much 

 occupied with their own affairs to take any notice of us. The Fisher 

 seemed to make more rapid progress than the squirrel, and we feel con- 

 fident that if the latter had not mounted a tree it would have been over- 

 taken before it could have advanced many feet farther ; it ran rapidly up 

 the sides of a cucumber tree, {Magnolia acuminati,) still pursued by its 

 hungry foe. The squirrel leaped lightly among the smaller branches, on 

 which its heavier pursuer seemed unwilling to trust himself. At length 

 the affrighted animal pitched from one of the topmost boughs and 

 landed on its feet unhurt among the rocks beneath. We expected 

 every moment to see the Fisher give us a specimen also of his talent 

 at lofty tumbling, but he seemed to think that the " better part of valour 

 w^as discretion," and began to run down the stem of the tree. At this 

 point w^e interfered. Had he imitated the squirrel in its flying leap, he 

 might have been entitled to the prey, provided he could overtake it, but 

 as he chose to exercise some stratagy and jockeying in the race, w^hen 

 the chances were so much in his favour, •we resolved to end the chase 

 by running to the foot of the tree which the Fisher was descending. He 

 paused on the opposite side as if tr3'ing to ascertain whether he had been 

 observed ; we were vi^ithout a gun, but rattled aw^ay with a knife on our 

 botanizing box, which seemed to frighten the Marten in his turn, most 

 effectually ; — the more noise we created the greater appeared to be his 

 terror ; after ascending to the top of the tree he sprang to another, 

 which he rapidly descended, till within twent}' feet of the earth, when he 

 jiunped to the ground, and with long leaps ran rapidly down the side of 

 the mountain, and was out of sight in a few moments. 



This scene occurred in the morning of a warm day in the month of 

 Jul}', a proof that this species is not altogether nocturnal in its habits. 

 We are, however, inclined to believe that the above was only an ex- 

 ception to the general character of the animal. 



Species that are decidedly nocturnal in their habits, frequently may be 

 seen moving about by day during the period when they are engaged in 

 providing for their young. Thus the raccoon, the opossum, and all our 

 hares, are constantly met with in spring, and early summer, in the morn- 



