HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE WOLVERENE. 47 



come down from Buffou of the destruction of Beavers by the 

 Wolverene. "It must be only in summer," he says, "when 

 those industrious animals are at work on land, that it can sur- 

 prise them. An attempt to break open their house in winter, 

 even supposing it possible for the claws of a Wolverene to pene- 

 etrate the thick mud walls when frozen as hard as stone, would 

 only have the effect of driving the beavers into the water to 

 seek for shelter in their vaults on the borders of the dam."* 

 I Hearne gives a much more credible account of the depre- 

 [ dations of the Wolverene upon another of the valuable fur- 

 bearing animals of the north — the Fox — during the period 

 of reproduction. Being directed by scent to the burrow of 

 the Fox, which its great strength enables it to enlarge if 

 necessary, it enters and destroys the whole family. In evi- 

 <ience of its amazing strength, of that sort most effective in 

 pulling, pushing, and prying, the same author mentions that a 

 Wolverene had been known to upset the greater part of a pile 

 of wood nearly seventy yards around, in order to get at some 

 I)rovisions which had been deposited in this cache. Audubon's 

 article, although entertaining and accurate, is chiefly a com- 

 pilation from previous accounts, as he appears to have met with 

 ttie animal in a state of nature but once, the result of which 

 occurrence is his principal contribution to the subject. This 

 was in Rensselaer County, near the banks of the Hoosac River. 

 He tracked a Wolverene in the snow to its den, which was 

 among rocks, and shot it after prying away some heavy frag- 

 ments. " There was a large nest of dried leaves in the cavern, 

 which had evidently been a place of resort for the Wolverene 

 during the whole winter, as its tracks from every direction led 

 to the spot. It had laid up no winter store, and evidently 

 depended on its nightly excursions for a supply of food. It 

 1 had however fared well, for it was very fat." 



The fur of the Wolverene is highly valued both by civilized 

 and uncivilized people. A number of skins sewn together 

 makes a very beautiful carriage robe or hearth-rug, and the pelts 

 are in common use for these purposes. The Indians and Esqui- 



* An auonymous writer, doubtless General D. S. Stanley ('• D. S. S., Fort 

 Sully, Dakota"; American Naturalist, ii, 1363, p. 215), notes the depredations 

 committed by the Wolverene upon Beaver, in the following terms : — ''The 

 wolverene follows the Beaver and preys upon them; in northern latitudes, 

 the wolverene is almost always present where the beaver is abundant. The 

 beaver has a beaten path on the bank of the stream near his lodge. There 

 the wolverene lies in wait for him, and often cuts short his career." 



