The Weasel Family — Wolverine. 201 



THE WOLVERINE. 



The Wolverine (Giilo-luseus), is known all over Eu- 

 rope as the Vielfrass. By the French Canadians it is 

 called Carcajou ; and by the British residents of North 

 America it is named Quick-hatch. 



Linnaeus placed the Wolverines among the Bears, 

 whom they really only resemble in their plantigrade move- 

 ments; approximating much nearer to the Weasels, in 

 their teeth, as well as in their habits. Scientists are now 

 agreed that the Wolverine should be placed with the 

 Weasel, in spite of the fact that it belongs to another 

 genus and is different in appearance and dimensions from 

 all the other members of the Weasel family. It has the 

 same number of teeth as the Weasel, but they are un- 

 usually powerful and strong, distinctly resembling those 

 of the Hyaenas. 



The Wolverine is an inhabitant of the northern regions 

 of both hemispheres. It is heavily and clumsily built; 

 has thick, stout limbs ; and like the Badger walks with 

 the back arched, and both head and tail carried low. The 

 head is broad and rounded, with small, widely separated 

 eyes, and small rounded ears. The length of the body is 

 from twenty-four to thirty-six inches, and the tail, which 

 has a plait or fold in place of a sac, measures from twelve 

 to fifteen inches. The body is covered with a thick, 

 woolly under fur. and a top coat of long, coarse hair. The 

 general color is blackish brown, with distinct bands of 

 chestnut brown or some lighter tint, commencing behind 

 the shoulders and running down the flanks to meet at 

 the root of the tail, forming a perfect disc on the back. 

 The fur on the front and sides of the head is of a light, 

 grey color. In the Western Hemisphere this animal 

 ranges as far north as the Arctic coast, and as far south 

 as Lake Erie on the eastern side of the continent, and 

 Salt Lake on the western side ; in the mountains it is seen 

 as far south as Arizona and New ^Mexico. It is a forest 

 haunting species, nocturnal in habit and can travel rapidly. 

 It is so voracious that it has been termed the Glutton. 

 It hunts during the night ; does not become torpid dur- 

 ing the winter: and is a solitary animal, living in sub- 



