ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
29 
and waving tail, but that tail is now suddenly curled over 
the back, its pace is slackened, and in one instant the con- 
dition of things is entirely reversed ; the lately triumphant 
pursuer is eagerly flying from his intended prize, involved in 
an atmosphere of stench, too stifling to be endured.” 
The Fisher ( Mustela Canadensis ), although twenty 
years ago numerous, is now becoming scarce. It is known 
and described also under the title of “ Pennant’s Marten 
but among the many inaccuracies common to ordinary works 
on Natural History, is its name “ the Fisher;” for this 
would lead one to infer that its habits are aquatic. Hearne, 
however, states that it manifests as much repugnance to 
water as a cat. It is said to have received this appellation 
from its fondness for the fish used for baiting traps. The 
early hunters about Lake Oneida were in the habit of soaking 
their fish over night, and leaving it to drain preparatory to 
using it ; this was frequently carried off by the gentleman in 
question, whose tracks were plainly seen around, and it has, 
like the wolverine, been known to follow a “ sable-line,” de- 
stroying twelve out of thirteen traps in one night, in a trail 
fourteen miles long. It climbs trees easily, living in their 
hollow trunks, and prefers marshy, woody swamps, near water- 
courses and lakes. It is not unlike the European polecat. 
The Sable ( Mustela Martis ) is a very active, pretty 
little animal, inhabiting the elevated woody districts of the 
North : it is very scarce wherever civilization extends, but 
was seen abundantly in Oregon, by Lewis and Clarke. It 
has never* been known to become domesticated. It takes 
up its quarters in trees, and is very carnivorous, living 
principally upon squirrels. Hunters state that the further 
North it is met with, the darker is its fur ; they also affirm 
that in the beech-nut season it will never touch bait, carefully 
avoiding their traps, and that it becomes excessively fat at 
this time ; we may however conclude that it does not use 
the beech or other nuts as food, but probably fattens itself 
