THE WOLVERINE. 121 



Description Boldness, &c. 



THE WOLVERINE. 



THIS quadruped resembles the wolf in size, 

 and the glutton in the formation of its head. 

 The upper parts and the belly are of a reddish 

 brown : the sides are yellowish brown ; and a 

 band of this colour crosses the back near the tail, 

 which is long and of a chesnut colour: the face 

 is black. The legs are remarkably strong, short, 

 and black ; and the soles of the feet are covered 

 with hair. 



The pace of the wolverine is very slow; but 

 this defect is amply compensated by sagacity, 

 strength, and acuteness of scent. They burrow 

 in the ground ; and, from the fierceness of their 

 disposition, are said to be even a terror to the 

 wolves and bears. They are also possessed of 

 great courage and resolution. One of them has 

 been known to seize on a deer that an Indian 

 bad killed; and though the Indian advanced 

 within twenty yards, he still refused to relinquish 

 his prize, and even suffered himself to be shot on 

 the fallen animal. They have also been some- 

 times seen to take a deer from a wolf, before the 

 latter had time to begin his repast after killing it. 

 Indeed their- amazing strength, and the length 

 and sharpness of their claws, enable them to 

 make a vigorous resistance against almost every 

 other animal. 



As a proof of their prodigious strength, there 



so. in, o 



