960 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



Lockhart, now sufficiently near, fired and killed the beast. 

 On another occasion, when the same gentleman was crossing 

 the Rocky Mountains, a Wolverine, which had become alarmed 

 and was making off, stopped frequently and put up his paw in 

 the same manner in order to see more clearly the nature of 

 that which had disturbed him." 



Bachman remarks-' of a captive European Wolverine 

 that he observed in Denmark: "He was somewhat averse 

 to the light of the sun, keeping his eyes half closed when 

 exposed to the rays." All evidence shows that the Wolverine 

 of the north is troubled with eyes that suffer in a dazzling 

 light. 



Snow-blindness is a wide-spread complaint among the 

 human dwellers of these white wastes in spite of their various 

 contrivances to prevent it. I have often wondered how the 

 animals escape, especially those that travel by day. Proof that 

 they do not always get off easily is found in the following by 

 Mrs. Mary Austin. In describing the terrors of a great snow 

 on the High Sierra, she adds:" "Even the Deer make slow 

 going in the deep, fresh snow, and once we found a Wolverine 

 going blind and feebly in the white glare." 



In many early accounts and pictures the Wolverine is 

 presented as a plantigrade animal, that is, one that sets the 

 whole foot on the ground, in bear-fashion. Numerous ob- 

 servations on living specimens, as well as a study of its trail, 

 show that it treads on the toes only, is truly digitigrade, as are 

 most of the Weasel Family. Though bear-like in gait and 

 clumsy in build, this animal is neither slow nor sluggish. A 

 captive specimen which I observed galloped nearly all day up 

 and down its cage, its head low, its back high arched, its 

 movements lumbering but vigorous, and seemingly tireless. 



STRENGTH Hcame, on his famous journey, had much experience with 



Wolverines, and writes thus:^' "As a proof of their amazing 



" Quad. N. A., 1849, Vol. I, p. 207. 



" Land of Little Rain, 1904, p. 257. ^ Journey, 1795, p. 373. 



