242 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



continent), south to lat. 55 N. (Lithuania, Volhynia, and northern 

 Germany where it is now exterminated) ; in Asia south to the Altai. 

 Still lives in northern Norway, Sweden, and Lapland." 



Norway. In former times it was common throughout the country, 

 but only in the mountains in the southern part. At present it is 

 rare in the high mountains and probably will soon become com- 

 pletely extinct. Large bounties are paid for every specimen because 

 of the damage the Wolverine does to cattle and reindeer. (Hj . Broch, 

 in litt., December, 1936.) 



It is supposed that a small stock is left in the south of Norway 

 on Hardangervidda and in Jotunheimen. While still found in the 

 northern parts, it shows a considerable decrease there. It is ques- 

 tionable whether it is possible to preserve the Wolverine in Norway. 

 (Director of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture, Norway, in litt., 

 January, 1937.) 



Sweden. The Wolverine inhabits chiefly the mountain forests 

 and the areas above the tree limit. It has therefore been mostly 

 restricted to the country northward from northern Dalecarlia (lat. 

 61 30' N.). In Wermland it was formerly found in small numbers, 

 but disappeared before the middle of the last century. Single speci- 

 mens have even been found as far south as Scania. At present, it 

 occurs only from Jemtland northward. 



The skin of the Wolverine has been valued for centuries, and the 

 animal has also been pursued because of its damage to livestock, 

 mostly reindeer but also sheep to some extent. Consequently boun- 

 ties are paid, and have recently been increased; the State pays 

 10 Cr., while the Lappfund pays 100 Cr. for old animals and 50 Cr. 

 for cubs. The total number of Wolverines killed in the whole 

 country is, by decades, as follows: 



1856-1865 1,159 1896-1905 1,084 



1866-1875 1,201 1906-1915 717 



1876-1885 1,240 1916-1925 639 



1886-1895 992 1926-1934 517 



There is a pretty steady decrease in numbers from the beginning 

 of the present century, indicating that there is danger of extermina- 

 tion. (Einar Lonnberg, in litt., October, 1936.) 



Finland. Ognev (1935, p. 95) mentions the occurrence of the 

 Wolverine about Lake Enara. 



Latvia. In the Baltic states the species was once found in large 

 numbers, but now seems to have disappeared. In 1875 a specimen 

 was killed near Gerki in Courland, and in 1876 another near Jacob- 

 stadt. (Ognev, 1935, p. 94.) 



Lithuania. Its former existence is uncertain (T. Ivanauskas, 

 in litt., November, 1936) . 



