Wolverine 961 



strength, there was one at Churchill some years since, that over- 

 set the greatest part of a pile of wood (containing a whole win- 

 ter's firing, that measured upwards of seventy yards round) to get 

 at some provisions that had been hid there by the Company's 

 servants, when going to the Factory to spend the Christmas 

 holidays. The fact was, this animal had been lurking about 

 in the neighbourhood of their tent (which was about eight miles 

 from the Factory) for some weeks, and had committed many 

 depredations on the game caught in their traps and snares, as 

 well as eaten many Foxes that were killed by guns set for that 

 purpose; but the Wolverine was too cunning to take either 

 trap or gun himself. The people, knowing the mischievous 

 disposition of those animals, took (as they thought) the most 

 effectual method to secure the remains of their provisions, 

 which they did not choose to carry home, and accordingly tied 

 it up in bundles and placed it on the top of the wood-pile 

 (about two miles from their tent), little thinking the Wolverine 

 would find it out; but, to their great surprise, when they re- 

 turned to their tent after the holidays, they found the pile of 

 wood in the state already mentioned, though some of the trees 

 that composed it were as much as two men could carry. The 

 only reason the people could give for the animal doing so much 

 mischief was that, in his attempting to carry off the booty, 

 some of the small parcels of provisions had fallen down into 

 the heart of the pile, and, sooner than lose half his prize, he 

 pursued the above method till he had accomplished his ends. 

 The bags of flour, oatmeal, and peas, though of no use to him, 

 he tore all to pieces and scattered the contents about on the 

 snow; but every bit of animal food, consisting of beef, pork, 

 bacon, venison, salt geese, partridges, etc., to a considerable 

 amount, he carried away." 



When fighting or under intense excitement it emits a fi^^^T 

 strong musky odour. This, as in all Weasels, is produced by 

 the anal glands. It is very strong in the present species and is 

 another justification of the name Skunk-bear. Although it 

 usually avoids man, the hunters generally testify that it can on 



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