40 VERTEBRATES : MAMMALS. 



from their holes. The Common Polecats of the Old 

 World all belong to this genus. 



The Genus Gulo Gluttons is characterized by a 

 stout body, bushy tail, densely hairy soles with six naked 

 pads, and thirty-eight teeth ; the formula for which is the 

 same as in the Mustelidae. 



The Wolverine, G. luscus, Sabine, of Northern New 

 York, thence northward and westward, is about three feet 

 long to the root of the tail, which is over a foot in length ; 



Fig. 42. 



Wolverine, G. fi/scus, Sabine. 



the color dark brown, the tail, legs, and under parts black. 

 There is a lighter broad band on the flanks passing over 

 the base of the tail and rump, and a grizzled light patch 

 upon the temples. The most extravagant stories have 

 been told of this interesting animal. It is safe to say 

 that, for its size, it is very powerful, ferocious, and 

 exceedingly voracious. It is very troublesome to the 

 sable-hunters, by breaking up their wooden traps and 

 destroying the bait, or game ; it also destroys caches of 

 provisions. The Glutton of Russia is a closely related 



species. 



The Genus Lutra Otters is characterized by aflat 

 head, elongated body, short, palmated feet, distinct digits, 



