238 TYPES OF ANIMAL LIFE 



and pointed ears and a well-developed inane along the 

 middle line of the neck and back. Its mane can be 

 erected at will, and gives the animal a formidable look. 

 But it is a mere game of brag, for its teeth, except 

 the canines, are quite rudimentary and insignificant. 

 Observations made upon specimens in menageries show 

 its harmlessness, and that it has neither the inclination 

 nor the power to feed upon living beasts and birds. It 

 feeds only upon decomposing animal substances and 

 upon grubs and white ants, and is a nocturnal, burrowing 

 beast. Thus, the civet tribe and the hyenas are, as it 

 were, zoological cousins to those most perfect of preda- 

 ceous beasts, the cats. 



The bears, on the other hand, have also been supposed 

 to have for their zoological cousins creatures which are 

 mostly small in size, though many of them are great in 

 value, since among them are included the sable, the 

 ermine, and the mink, and other kinds zealously hunted 

 for their valuable fur. For ample details the reader is 

 referred to a work compiled in 1877 by Dr. Elliott Coues 

 on " Fur-bearing Animals," printed at the Government 

 Office at Washington. They may be spoken of as of the 

 weasel tribe, as we speak of the cat tribe and the civet 

 tribe. The largest of the weasel tribe, and the most 

 bear-like in aspect is the glutton, or wolverine, which has 

 a heavy body supported on thick-set, rather low legs, 

 with nearly plantigrade feet, and long, curved claws. It 

 ranges over the north of both hemispheres, descend- 

 ing in America clown to the borders of Arizona and New 

 Mexico. Its food consists of hares, foxes, beavers, 

 squirrels, grouse, and reindeer, and it is said to attack 

 even horses and cows. It has a curious propensity to 

 steal and hide things, even objects which can be of no 

 possible use to it. Dr. E. Coues relates a singular in- 



