GLUTTON. 



73 



having been discovered in the caverns of Derbyshire, Glamorganshire, and the Yale 

 of Clwyd, while they also occur in the older " forest-bed " of the Norfolk coast. 

 Evidence of the former existence of the glutton on the continent has also been 

 obtained in the caves of the Dordogne in the south of France. 



In habits the glutton is almost exclusively nocturnal, there being 

 but few instances of its having been seen abroad during the day ; and 

 in two of these cases the animal was seen to sit up and shade its eyes with its paws, 

 as if suffering from the unaccustomed light. The glutton does not hibernate, and 

 there is no marked difference in the colour of the winter and summer coat. In 

 spite of its clumsy-looking appearance the animal when disturbed can make off at 

 a very rapid pace, and hunters who have occasionally seen a glutton in the shades 

 of evening speak of the hopelessness of pursuing it. It likewise ascends rough- 

 barked trees with facility, although it is said that its climbing powers are only 

 exerted when it scents food. In the pursuit of prey the glutton will readily 

 swim rivers. As a rule it is silent, although when attacked it will give vent to 

 angry growls. 



Gluttons are found either solitary or in pairs, but generally solitary. During 

 the day they live concealed in subterranean holes, which are usually their breeding- 

 places, and which are frequently the deserted lairs of bears. In North America 

 the young are born in June or July, the number of individuals in a litter being, 

 according to Coues, generally four or five, but it is stated that there are sometimes 

 only a pair. The young remain with their mother till the following winter, when 

 they have to shift for themselves. The Cree Indians state that the mother is 

 exceedingly fierce when defending her offspring, and at such times will not hesitate 

 to attack human beings. 



In regard to food, it appears that the glutton will devour any animal that it 

 can catch and overmaster, and that it is by no means averse to carrion. The 

 activity of the animal is such that it can at times, according to Dr. Coues, capture 

 such nimble prey as hares and grouse, while disabled or weakly deer are always 

 successfully attacked. The stories of its attacking healthy full-grown reindeer 

 are, however, improbable. Foxes, rabbits, marmots, etc., are dug out from their 

 burrows and eaten. 



Although much exaggerated by the older writers, the voracity of the glutton 

 is extreme. It is stated by North American hunters that a freshly-killed animal 

 may be safely left out in the woods for the first night, as the glutton will not touch 

 it ; but the second night the animal will return and gorge itself on the flesh, 

 burying such portions as it is unable to consume. So pertinacious, indeed, are 

 these animals in quest of slaughtered carcases, that they have even been known to 

 gnaw through a thick log of wood and to dig a hole several feet deep in frozen 

 ground, in order to gain access to the body of a deer concealed by hunters. 



Gluttons are in the habit of robbing the traps set for other animals, and when 

 one of them has discovered a line of marten traps the trapper may as well relinquish 

 his trade until he has destroyed the marauder. Every trap along the line will be 

 pulled to pieces and the bait or captured marten removed ; and after the hunger of 

 the glutton is satisfied the remainder of the booty will be buried. Another curious 

 propensity of the glutton is its habit of stealing and hiding articles which can be 



