290 THE GLUTTON. 



animal seems nati rally compelled to the life for which it 

 has lo r ;g been remarkable. Its only resource is to climb a 

 tree, which it does with great ease, and there it waits with 

 patience until some large animal passes underneath, upon 

 which it darts down with unerring certainty, and de- 

 stroys it. 



It is chiefly in North America that this voracious crea- 

 ture is seen lurking among the thick branches of trees, in 

 order to surprise the deer, with which the extensive forests 

 of that part of the world abound. Endued with a degree 

 of patience equal to its rapacity, the Glutton singles out 

 such trees as it observes marked by the teeth or the antlers 

 of the deer ; and is known to remain there watching for 

 several days together. If it has fixed upon a wrong tree, 

 and finds that the deer have either left that part of the coun- 

 try, or cautiously shun the place, its reluctantly descends, 

 pursues the beaver to its retreat, or even ventures into the 

 water, in pursuit of fishes. But if it happens that, by long 

 attention, and keeping close, at last the elk or the reindeer 

 happens to pass that way, it at once darts down upon 

 them, sticks its claws between their shoulders, and remains 

 there unalterably firm. It is in vain that the large frightened 

 animal increases its speed, or threatens with its branching 

 horns ; the Glutton having taking possession of its post, 

 nothing can drive it off; its enormous prey drives rapidly 

 along amongst the thickest woods, rubs itself against the 

 largest trees, and tears down the branches with its ex- 

 panded horns ; but still its insatiable foe sticks behind, 

 eating its neck, and digging its passage to the great blood- 

 vessels that lie in that part. Travellers, who wander 

 through those deserts, often see pieces of the Glutton's skin 

 sticking to the trees, against which it was rubbed by the 

 deer. But the animal's voracity is greater than its feel- 

 ings, and it never seizes w tthout bringing down its prey. 

 When, therefore, the deer, wounded and feeble with the 

 loss rf blood, falls, the Glutton is seen to make up for its 



