PURBY FRIENDS WITH FINE SKINS. I17 



These species form the connecting link between 

 the wolverene and the weasels, which is somewhat 

 evidenced by a more heavily haired, stouter body 

 than that of the sinuous weasel, and a slenderer figure 

 than that of the wolverene. Of the two martens the 

 fisher is by far the largest, as may be seen by Dr. 

 Coues's description above ; indeed, according to Dr. 

 Merriam, the average length of the animal is three 

 feet and a half from nose to tip of tail. 



The prey of the fisher is mostly mice, squirrels, 

 partridges, small birds, frogs, fish, and sometimes 

 hares and even raccoons. Strangely enough, he does 

 not hesitate to attack the well-armored porcupine, 

 which he kills by biting in the belly — so says Sir 

 John Richardson. But I copy from Dr. Merriam's 

 account of the animal the indubitable proofs of the 

 fisher's liking for porcupine flesh, and whether he at- 

 tacks the porcupine in a vulnerable spot or not, it is 

 perfectly plain he does not have an easy time of it. 

 " The intestine of one was lined with rows of porcu- 



