150 
U. S. P. R R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY -GENERAL REPORT. 
bushy tail and large size. Some specimens, indeed, are fully equal in size to a fox two-thirds 
grown, though others are not more than half as long. 
The muzzle is quite large; the septum between the nostrils naked, and reaching nearly to 
the edge of the lip. The ears are rather low, but very wide, the length of base being twice 
the height. The eyes appear to be rather large for the genus. 
The feet are short but stout, and well armed with sharp strong claws. There is a naked 
ball under the end of each of the five toes, and another Y-shaped one on the palm and soles, 
the angle anterior and truncated ; the palmar callosity further from the phalangeal ones than 
the plantar is. There are no other callosities on the hind foot; on the fore foot, however, there 
are two small ones, higher up, opposite each other ; the palmar one about intermediate between 
them and the phalangeal. 
The tail is long, rather shorter than the body, without head and neck ; thick and bushy at the 
base, and tapering rapidly and uniformly to an acute tip. In a winter specimen, (1009,) the 
naked bulbs of tbe feet are much more overgrown with hair, so as nearly to conceal them ; they 
are, however, evident on close examination. 
The hair is composed of two sorts—one long and coarse and a basal softer fur. It is longest 
and fullest on the lower portion of the back. 
Specimens vary considerably in color. In the largest specimen before me, (1005,) it is glossy 
black, including the tail, the rump, the legs, and the whole under parts. Towards the middle 
of the back there is a mixture, first of brownish, then of yellowish gray, very conspicuous about 
the shoulders and nape, still lighter on the top and sides of the head. This variation is caused 
chiefly by the long coarse hairs, which on the tail are entirely lustrous black, except a reddish 
gray tinge at the base. Progressing anteriorly, however, this lighter base extends further 
along the hair, and becomes purer and lighter in color, until on the shoulders the hairs are 
black at point, dusky at tip ; the intermediate third brownish white. The under fur, however, 
is of a brownish plumbeous, lighter at the base, varying somewhat in tint with the long hairs. 
Under the base of the lower jaw, and between the legs, fore and hind, are patches of white 
hairs, as also in the axillae, largest about the genital region. 
The preceding description represents, perhaps, the extreme condition of dark coloraton, other 
specimens are much lighter, the hairs on the tail showing much dark chestnut towards the base, 
and this changing to a clear grayish white to the head. The central line of the belly only is 
black. Tbe general pattern of coloration is, however, much the same, and in all, the three 
white patches on the chin, chest, and abdomen, as well as those on the axilhe, are more or less 
visible. 
Specimens of this species from the same locality vary much in size, although the materials 
before me are not sufficient to determine whether the impression prevalent in northern New York 
as to the existence of two species known, respectively, as Fisher and Black cat, is correct or not. 
Numerous remains of this species are found in the great bone cave near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 
among them a very fine skull of larger size than any recent one I have seen. The animal is 
found occasionally in the mountains north of Carlisle, in Perry county, whence I obtained, many 
years ago, the living specimen figured by Audubon and Bachman. It also occurs in the Alle¬ 
gheny region of Virginia, and even as far south as North Carolina, according to the above 
authors. 
The scientific history of this species, as of most American animals described by the earlier 
authors, is very much confused; all their descriptions, however, are based essentially upon Le 
