168 THE WOLVERENE, OR GLUTTON. 



pass over frozen snow ; indeed, so large are they, that its 

 footsteps are often mistaken for the tracks of the bear. In 

 one of its habits it resembles Mr. Bruin, having the custom, 

 when it finds an animal which it cannot devour at one meal, 

 of carrying off the remainder and hiding it in some secure 

 place. 



The glutton moves at a somewhat slow pace, and appears 

 rather deficient in agility ; but at the same time he is per- 

 severing and determined, and will range over a wide extent 

 of country in search of weak or dying animals, stealing un- 

 awares upon hares and birds, &c. When he takes a fancy to 

 some larger quadruped as it lies asleep, he springs upon it, 

 tearing open the neck and throat. He is supposed to prefer 

 putrid flesh, and the odour which proceeds from him would 

 lead us to suppose that such is the case. The trappers look 

 upon him with especial hatred, as, with his usual cunning, he 

 seeks out their hoards of provisions in cache, and destroys 

 their marten-traps. He himself is so sly that he is seldom 

 caught in a snare. When he finds one, he approaches it from 

 behind, and pulling it to pieces from the outside, carries off 

 the bait. The marten-hunter will go forth and set a line of 

 traps, extending to upwards of forty miles in length or cir- 

 cumference. The wolverene, observing what he is about, 

 follows at a distance, carefully pulling the traps to pieces as 

 he leaves them behind, and eating off the heads of the par- 

 tridges or other birds which have been used as bait, declining 

 all the time to run his nose into danger. When a sable or 

 marten is entrapped, he tears out the dead animal and carries 

 it away. It is even supposed that he will attack a hybernat- 

 ing bear in his den, and manage to kill him before Bruin 

 has aroused himself sufficiently for his defence. 



