238 FOREST LANDS OF NORTHERN RUSSIA, 



and February, at which time the snow is in a favourable 

 condition for snow-shoes being used, without which the 

 hunter might sink deep in the snow, and would be power- 

 less in following up a bear. 



' The snow shoes are about seven feet long and six inches 

 broad, slightly curved at the point, with a foot piece in 

 the middle, to which are attached thongs or straps for 

 securing the snow-shoe to the foot. Some of them are 

 covered underneath with the skin of the reindeer, which 

 is of great assistance to the hunter in ascending hills. In 

 the absence of this undercovering of skin, the hunter pro- 

 vides himself with a pole about eight feet in length, with 

 a curved point of horn or bone, with which he guides 

 himself in descending, or prevents his feet from slipping 

 backwards in ascending, any rising ground.' 



In Nova Zembla the Polar bear is met with, and in 

 Northern Russia the glutton or wolverine, which is nearly 

 allied to the Ursus Arctos. It is known as the Taxus 

 gulo, and as Gulo Arcticos. It is apparently the Ursus 

 luscus of Linnaeus. 



The glutton, or wolverine, owes its popular name to its 

 extreme voracity ; but it is not less characterised by its 

 strength, fierceness, and cunning. It dees not hesitate to 

 dispute their prey with the wolf and the bear, and it 

 baffles frequently the stratagem of the hunter. It is slow 

 and somewhat unwieldy in its movements, but it is deter- 

 mined and persevering, and will proceed at a steady pace 

 for miles in search of prey, stealing unawares upon hares, 

 marmots, and birds ; and surprising even the larger quad- 

 rupeds, such as the elk and the reindeer, when asleep. 



All of the other families of the carnivora, the Felidae 

 or cat tribe, the Canidae or dog tribe, and the Mustilidae 

 or weasel tribe, have their representatives here. 



One representative of the Mustilidae is the ermine, and 

 another is the sable. The mention of these suggests also 

 the fact that there are squirrels of different species ; and 



