PENNANT'S MARTEN OR FISHER. 315 



indicative of aquatic habits ; it is fond of low swampy places, follows 

 streams, and eats fish when in captivity. We feel pretty confident that 

 it does not dive after the finny tribes, but it is not improbable that it 

 surprises them in shallow water, and we are well informed that, like 

 the raccoon, it searches under the banks of water-courses for frogs, &c. 

 By the Canadian hunters and trappers, it is universally called the 

 Pekan. In New England and the Northern counties of New York it is 

 sometimes named the Black Fox, but more frequently is known as the 

 Fisher. According to Dekay, it is called the Black Cat by the inhabi- 

 tants of the western portion of New York. 



