ORDER CARNASSIER. 277 



quadrupeds arad birds cannot be procured, it is said to con- 

 ceal itself on the horizontal branch of some tree, from which 

 it will drop on Deer, even Horses, or other animals that may 

 pass beneath, holding its situation and sucking their blood, 

 till faintness and loss of blood sink them a complete cap- 

 tive to its voracity. When tamed, it has been said to have 

 eaten thirteen pounds of flesh in a day. 



The Common Glutton inhabits all the Arctic regions, 

 Norway, Canada, and the uncultivated parts of the United 

 States, where it is well known by its depredations on the 

 magazines of provisions provided by the Indians. 



Edwards describes the Quickhatch or Wolverene, which 

 appears to be no other than the American variety of this 

 species. His specimen had lost an eye, and from this tri- 

 vial circumstance Linnaeus applied to it the specific epithet 

 of Luscus. The American Gluttons seem to be paler in 

 colour those of the Old World. 



The Grison (Viverra Vittata, Lin.) is one of the few 

 animals that have the fur of a deeper colour underneath 

 than on the back. The head, from between the eyes, top 

 and sides of the neck, and back, crupper, flank, and tail, 

 are of a pale gray, each hair being coloured alternately 

 black and yellowish white ; the muzzle, lower jaw, under 

 part of the neck, paws, and belly are black ; a pale gray or 

 whitish line from each side of the head, which goes from be- 

 tween the eyes, passes over the ears to the sides of the neck. 



The body is elongated, and its step is more decidedly 

 plantigrade than in the common species. The toes are 

 semi-webbed ; the ears are small ; the tongue rough ; the 

 eye-pupils round ; and it has slight mustachios. The fur is 

 of two sorts : woolly, of a pale gray colour, and silky black 

 or annulated black and white, longest on the back, flanks, 

 and tail. It measures about eighteen inches from nose to 

 tail, which is about six inches long. 



It is a very ferocious little animal, killing and devouring 

 small quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, fyc; and although capable 



