66 THE NATUEALIST IN NORWAY. 



visions. The glutton comes after dark sniffing and 

 prowling round the tent, and arriving at the birch 

 table, which is about five feet high, it surveys it, sus- 

 pects that it is a snare, and makes off as fast as it can. 



Mr. Lloyd mentions the following stratagem adopted 

 by a Lapp to destroy a glutton : " During his rambles 

 through the forest the Lapp discovered a glutton in a 

 tree. Unfortunately, however, he had not wherewithal 

 to destroy the beast ; but to deter it from descending 

 the tree, while he hastened home for his gun, he fixed 

 an upright pole in the ground near to the tree, and 

 with his pels, or fur cloak and cap, rigged out a coun- 

 terpart of himself. This notable expedient perfectly 

 succeeded, for on his return some time afterwards he 

 found the glutton still in the tree, and presently made 

 him his prize." 



The glutton lives entirely on flesh. It climbs trees 

 in pursuit of birds ; it attacks the elk, and pursues the 

 reindeer for miles, until it approaches near enough to 

 make its fatal spring. It also feeds on rats, mice, and 

 lemmings ; and destroys a vast number of hares. Some 

 travellers have asserted, and among them Dr. Richard- 

 son, that the glutton does not pursue and kill the rein- 

 deer. It is now pretty well acknowledged that it does ; 

 and when it springs on the reindeer's neck, it lacerates 

 the flesh and tears open the veins of its prey with its 

 powerful claws, when the poor creature loses so much 

 blood that it falls down exhausted and expires. 



The glutton breeds only once a year, and produces a 

 litter of two, sometimes of three young ones. The 

 flesh is rank, and not palatable, but the Lapps eat and 

 enjoy it very much. No doubt this taste for its flesh, 

 on the part of this diminutive people, arises partly from 

 spite. 



