232 The Houie of tJie Wolverene and Beaver. 



give the following account of an accidental meeting 

 •with a wolverene : — 



" While hunting the northern hare, immediately 

 after a heavy fall of snow, we unexpectedly came 

 upon the track of an animal which at the time we 

 supposed to be that of a bear, a species which even 

 then was scarcely known in that portion of the 

 country (which was already pretty thickly settled). 

 We followed the broad trail over the hills and 

 through the devious windings of the forest for 

 about five miles, till within sight of a ledge of rocks 

 on the banks of the Hoosack River, when, as we 

 found the night approaching, we were reluctantly 

 compelled to give up the pursuit for that day, 

 intending to resume it on the following morning. 

 It snowed incessantly for two days afterwards, and, 

 believing that the bear had retired to his winter 

 retreat, we concluded that the chance of adding it 

 to our collection had passed by. Some weeks 

 afterwards, a favourite servant, who ■\\'as always 

 anxious to aid us in our pursuits, and who not 

 only knew many quadrupeds and birds, but was 

 acquainted with many of their habits, informed us 

 that he had on a previous day seen several tracks 

 similar to those we had described, crossing a new 

 road cut through the forest. As early on the 

 following morning as we could see a track in the 



