SEs ~ 
Photograph by W. P. Dando, F. 
THE GLUTTON: ONE OF THE SCARCEST ANIMALS 
IN CAPTIVITY. 
By W. P. DANDO, F.z.S. 
ANY persons when passing the raccoons’ cages in our Zoological Gardens, in the 
centre one of which is housed the Glutton (Gulo luscus), or, as it is called in 
America, Wolverene or Carcajou, are neglecting to observe one of the scarcest animals now 
to be seen in captivity. The legendary tales of Ysbrandt, Claus, Magnus, Buffon, and 
many others in.regard to the gluttonous habits of this animal should alone make the 
specimen at the Zoo attractive. The octogenarian naturalist, Mr. John Watts de Peyster, 
of “Rose Hill,’ New York, who commissioned me to photograph this unique specimen, 
writes as follows:—‘ You would be astonished at the labour and expense I have 
lavished, in gathering and reproducing information respecting these animals. J am 
astonished at the ferocity of your specimen, because I have read in several works that 
the careajou becomes gentle and responsive to kindness, even affectionate, and learns to 
moderate his gluttonous appetite im captivity. Through the kindness and courtesy of 
different officials of the principal museums of the world, I have obtained photographs of the 
wolverene, or carcajou or glutton, taken from stuffed specimens; but the photographs you 
Iindly send me are unique, as your institution contains the only living specimen, of which 
I have been able to learn, in any institution im America or on the continent of Hurope.” 
The depth of the cage from back to front is so shallow, that, unless the animal 
is right against the farthest wall, a good photograph is impossible. I was two days 
getting the results shown, as the animal got into a most violent rage, foaming at the 
mouth at sight of the camera, and continued his violent movements and antics for 
hours together every time I approached the cage, until, overcome by exhaustion, he 
flung himself down for a second in the positions shown, rewarding me for my patience 
with two representative poses. 
By far the best account I have been able to find of the habits of the glutton, 
which holds the unique position of beimg the only representative of the genus to 
which it belongs, is that by Sir John Richardson, who says: “The wolverene is a 
carnivorous animal, which feeds principally upon the carcases of beasts that have been 
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