TIIE BUFFALO. 205 



mbla in the world. Instead of wasting its time in sniffing 

 and sighing, or trying to climb the thin, upright stakes, it. 

 quietly goes to work and cuts a number of them down with 

 the dexterity and rapidity of the beaver, its sharp teeth 

 enabling it to do this in the course of a few hours. When 

 several posts are cut away, the platform and its contents 

 tumble down, and the wily animal enjoys a feast that would 

 cause a hungry wolf to go into ecstasies. Should the latter 

 attempt to become a participator of the good things pro- 

 cured by the other, however, it pays dearly for its presump- 

 tion, for the wolverene allows nothing except its own kin- 

 dred to be self-invited to its board. It is probably the 

 most cunning animal on the continent, and a fox or a wolf 

 is only a sucking dove compared to it. It defies traps, and, 

 no matter how carefully a hunter may secure his bait, it 

 will probably be taken away, and no result left for it. 

 Meat buried deep under the snow for safe-keeping is stolen 

 with a promptitude and ability that defies detection; but 

 the experienced hunter knows at once who is the thief, and 

 frequently does not attempt to follow in pursuit, for he 

 knows how useless it would be. 



This Western robber and glutton is a peculiar-looking 

 creature belonging to the Mustelidce, and is the largest of 

 the genus. It is not unlike a polecat in form, but it is 

 much heavier and more ungainly. It has a large head, 

 which is carried somewhat lower than the upper portion of 

 the body; the legs are short and massive; the tail is of 

 medium length, black and bushy; the claws are sharp and 

 dense; and its fangs are pointed and powerful. I have 

 known it to enter a cabin and devour three or four pounds 

 of pemmican, and get away from its pursuers, although 

 three or four dogs joined in the chase. 



This pemmican, which is made of meat dried, pounded, 

 and mixed with melted fat and dried berries, forms the 

 principal food of the wandering Indians, hunters, and voy- 

 ageurs; but an inexperienced pale-face would find it a dif- 

 ficult matter to eat it with any relish unless he was almost 

 starving. It frequently has a rancid taste that is sickening 



