ANIMALS OP NORTH AMERICA. 27 



American species has a short tail and long claws, which are of 

 a light horn color : the European, on the contrary, has a longish 

 tail, and short claws, nearly black. It is found, in the great- 

 est abundance, in the plains adjacent to the Missouri and 

 Columbia rivers, and in Oregon, but individuals are met with 

 here and there all over the continent. 



The WOLVERINE or GLUTTON ( Grulo luscus*) is common 

 to both the Old World and the New. 



Description. Body long and low on the legs ; fur loose 

 and shaggy ; tail very bushy, covered with long pendulous 

 hairs, frequently confounded with the Bay Lynx (Felis 

 rufa), whose habits conform much more to the stories in 

 existence attributed to our wolverine. The statement that it 

 ascends trees for the purpose of leaping down upon the necks 

 of passing animals, and that it takes up with it certain moss 

 of which deer are fond, dropping it immediately under the 

 tree to entice them, has been so frequently repeated that it is 

 generally looked upon as a fact, though the authorities origi- 

 nating these accounts, give nothing as proof more satisfactory 

 than hearsay. A well known American naturalist remarks 

 under this heading " the necessity of scepticism becomes 

 obvious." It inhabits the northern part of America generally, 

 but is everywhere a rare species. Professor Emmons states 

 they still exist in the Hoosac Mountains of Massachusetts. 

 Very little, however, is known accurately respecting it or its 

 habits. 



Few, if any, among the small quadrupeds of this continent, 

 equal in beauty the family of Mustelce or Martens, of which 

 the Skunk, the Mink, and the Ermine are best known. 



Description. Long vermiform bodies on short feet ; neck 

 long ; ears short and rounded ; tail long, rarely bushy. 



One peculiarity of this species is, that when pursuing their 

 prey, they resemble hounds running on a trail, with tail erect 

 and following by scent. THE SKUNK (Mephitis Americana) 

 is well-known and detested everywhere throughout the coun- 



