THE GLUTTON. 105 



animal it has just killed : in that situation it remains 

 two or three days, until its vigour is restored, and it 

 can again begin to gorge upon the remains of the 

 carcase, which it does not quit until it has completely 

 devoured it even to the bones ; it then returns to its 

 hiding-place in 'some umbrageous tree, or pursues the 

 beaver into its hole. 



The glutton, like all the species of the weasel, is a 

 solitary animal, yet does not appear to have any dread 

 of the human race ; for we are told by the historian 

 Gemelin, that one of them came close to several pea- 

 sants who were at work, gazed upon them with the 

 greatest composure, and did not attempt to move un- 

 til it had received several blows which soon terminated 

 its adventurous life : like the hyaena, it is fond of hu- 

 man flesh, and will frequently scratch the bodies froiri 

 their "raves. 



CHAP. XT. 



ANIMALS OF THE HARE KIND. 



IF we Avere methodically to distinguish animals of the 

 hare kind from each other, we might say that they 

 have but two cutting teeth above, and two below ; that 

 they are covered with a soft downy fur, and that they 

 have a bushy tail : the combination of these marks 

 might perhaps distinguish them tolerably well from the 

 rat, the beaver, the otter, and any other animate 

 nearly approaching them in form : but as we have de- 

 clined all method that tends to embarrass rather than 

 en lighten history, we shall class all those animals toge- 

 ther where we find a resemblance in their natural ha* 

 bits, in the form of their body, or shape of their heads 



n 4 



