962 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



occasion face him very bravely, and rarely flies from any foe 

 on four legs. 



Such is the opinion by Hearne, who, with convincing 

 reserve, says:"* 



"With respect to the fierceness of this animal which some 

 assert, I can say little, but I know them to be beasts of great 

 courage and resolution, for I once saw one of them take pos- 

 session of a Deer that an Indian had killed, and, though the 

 Indian advanced within twenty yards, he would not relinquish 

 his claim to it, but sufi^ered himself to be shot standing on the 

 Deer. I once saw a similar instance of a Lynx, or Wild-cat, 

 which also sufi"ered itself to be killed before it would relinquish 

 the prize. The Wolverines have also frequently been seen to 

 take a Deer from a Wolf before the latter had time to begin his 

 repast after killing it. Indeed, their amazing strength, and the 

 length and sharpness of their claws, render them capable of 

 making a strong resistance against any other animal in those 

 parts, the Bear not excepted." 



One of my mountaineer friends, Abe Leeds, of Idaho, 

 gives me a stirring account of a meeting between two Wolver- 

 ines and a Cinnamon Bear, over a dead Elk. All three had 

 been feeding there for some days. But the Bear came once 

 when both Wolverines were in possession. Leeds was waiting 

 for the Bear, but the Wolverines attacked the new guest with 

 great fury, and, although the battle was little more than 

 snarling and heavy growling, extraordinarily so for an animal 

 so small as the Wolverine, the Bear went off and left them in 

 possession. 



In ancient books the Wolverine is credited with being the 

 inveterate enemy of the Beaver and the Reindeer. One might 

 reasonably infer from two favourite and precious pictures of 

 fifty years ago that these two and none other were its habitual 

 and limited diet. All the evidence I can gather, and it is 

 much, goes to show that while it can climb and swim 

 it is not much at home in the trees or in the water. In 



" Ibid., p. 372. 



