ANIMALS. 287 



If we compare these dimensions with those of othci' aiiiinals, we 

 shall find that they approach more nearly to the class we are at 

 present describing than any other ; and that the glutton may 

 very justly be conceived under the form of a great overgrown 

 weasel. Its nose, its ears, its teeth, and its long bushy tail, are 

 entirely similar ; and as to what is said of its being rather cor- 

 pulent than slender, it is mobt probable that those who described 

 it thus, saw it after eating, at which time its belly, we are as 

 sured, is most monstrously distended : however, suspending all 

 certainty upon this subject, I will take leave rather to follow 

 Linnaeus than Buffon, in describing this animal ; and leave fu- 

 ture experience to judge between them. 



The glutton, which is so called from its voracious appetite, 

 is an animal found as well in the north of Europe and Siberia, 

 as in the northern parts of i^merica, where it has the name ot 

 the carcajou. Amidst the variety of descriptions which havt 

 Oeen given of it, no very just idea can be formed of its figure ; 

 and, indeed, some naturalists, among whom was Ray, entirely 

 doubted of its existence. From the best accounts, however, we 

 have of it, the body is thick and long, the legs short ; it is black 

 along the back, and of a reddish brown on the sides ; its fur is 

 held in the highest estimation, for its softness and beautiful 

 gloss ; the tail is bushy, like that of the weasel, but rather 

 shorter; and its legs and claws are better fitted for climbing 

 trees, than for running along the ground. Thus far it entirely 

 resembles the weasel ; and its manner of taking its prey is ako 

 by surprise, and not by pursuit. 



Scarcely any of the animals with short legs and long bodies 

 pursue their prey; but, knowing their own incapacity to over- 

 take it by swiftness, either creep upon it in its retreats, or 

 wait in ambush and seize it with a bound. The glutton, from 

 the make of its legs and the length of its body, must be particu- 

 larly slow ; and, consequently, its only resource is in taking its 

 prey by surprise. AW the rest of the weasel kind, from the 

 smallness of their size, are better fitted for a life of insidious 

 rapine than this ; they can pursue their prey into its retreats, 

 ihey can lurk unseen among the branches of trees, and hide 

 themselves with ease imder the leaves : but the glutton is too 

 large to follow small prey into their retreats ; nor would such, 

 even if obtained, be sufHcient to sustain it. For these reasons. 



