108 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



THE SKULL OP AN OLD MALE WOLVERENE 



In proportion to its sire, the wolverene possesses a more for- 

 midable set of teeth than a grizzly bear; in fact, the entire skull 

 of this animal is a structure of the most massive character, to a 

 greater degree than in any other mammal of its size in America. 

 (Reduced one half.) 



but this is simply the instinctive prudence and discretion 

 of a creature which prefers the absolute immunity of its 

 subterranean resorts to the chances of unequal combat 

 in which it is at disadvantage. Certainly no lack of 

 courage, determination and physical endurance is seen 

 when the creature, captured or cut off from its retreat, 

 is brought to bay. Its pluck is then as conspicuous as its 

 really formidable strength. The cruel sport of 'badger- 

 baiting' is sometimes indulged in in the West; and if the 

 animal be given a barrel or similar retreat in which it 

 is secure irom attack in the rear, it may prove more than 

 a match for a strong dog. Indeed, the fighting qualities 

 of the badger, and the stubborn resistance it offers at 

 whatever unfair odds, have supplied our language with 

 a word of peculiar significance : to 'badger' is to beset 

 on all sides and harass and worry. The stout, thick-set 

 and depressed shape of the animal is greatly in its favor, 

 combining with the long, loose hair to prevent a dog from 

 reaching vulnerable parts, and to embarrass it in attempt- 

 ing to take hold ; the snap of the jaws inflicts a serious 

 wound ; and, finally, the tenacity of life is at a high rate." 



The range of the American badger extends from north 

 latitude 58 degrees southward to Oklahoma, and west- 

 ward to the Rocky Mountains ; and formerly it was found 

 as far East as the state of Ohio. 



There appear to be three species of wolverenes in the 

 North American fauna, and they occur in various areas 

 in Alaska, British America, and the United States. There 

 is also an European species whose form and habits are 

 almost identical with our si)ecies ; it occurs, too, in north- 

 em Asia, and some zoologists consider this Old World 

 form the same as the common American one. The hab- 

 its of the various species are i)retty much the same every- 

 where, while the form to be referred to here is the one 

 occurring in the United States. 



This big, bear-like animal is also known as the Glutton 

 and as the Carcajou. Its hair is long and shaggy, and 

 the creature walks on the soles of its feet. Its general 

 color is a blackish brown, described by some as a deep 

 purplish brown ; this is generally lighter on the top and 



sides of the head, while a chestnut brown band, com- 

 mencing at the shoulders, passes backwards along the 

 sides to meet on the rump at the base of the tail. The 

 feet, legs and under parts are blackish; the claws are 

 dirty white, curved, strong and sharp, the longest one 

 fully an inch in length. The front and sides of the head 

 are marked by a hoary area, and this varies in extent 

 in different specimens. In fact, the pelage of this animal 

 varies according to age and season. 



Owing to its size, three to four feet in length, to its 

 thick-set form, short stout legs, low ears, bear-like feet, 

 and to its markings, the wolverene has sometimes been 

 called "skunk bear." Although the animal possesses 

 great strength, it is, withal, a clumsy brute. As it usu- 

 ally carries its head and tail low, the back is given an 

 arched appearance from the neck to the root of the tail, 

 which latter is bushy and of some length. Its remark- 

 ably small eyes are wide apart, and its muzzle is short 

 and pointed, while the general form of the head is very 

 round. The ears are low, resembling those of the Pekan, 

 and its strong jaws resemble those of some of the short- 

 muzzled Canidae. A few straggling whiskers are found 

 about the mouth, with a few more upon either side of the 

 face. We find between the fore limbs and on the throat 

 several spots, as in the Marten; and in some specimens 

 these spots run together into one light-colored area. 

 The palms and the soles of the feet are thickly furred ; 

 but the pads at the base of the toes are naked, as is also 

 a bigger one beneath the carpus. 



This sullen and greedy animal has had bestowed upon 

 it an unusual number of names, both common and tech- 

 nical ones. A writer says "probably no youth's early 

 conceptions of the Glutton were uncolored with romance ; 

 the general picture impressed upon the susceptible mind 

 of that period being that of a ravenous monster of in- 

 satiable voracity, matchless strength, and supernatural 

 cunning a terror of all other beasts, the blood-thirsty 

 master of the forest. We cannot wonder at the quality 

 of the stream when we turn to the fountain-head of such 



A MUSEUM SPECIMEN OF THE WOLVERENE 



This fine wolverene is to be seen in one of the exhibition cases 

 in the Mammal Hall of the United States National Museum. It 

 was photographed by the author and appears here for the first 

 time. 



