THE WOLVERENE. 211 



Captain Cartvveight (see Journal, vol. ii., p. 407) records an instance 

 of strength and cunning in this species that we cannot pass by in giving 

 its history ; we will use his own words. " In coming to the foot of Table 

 Hill I crossed the track of a Wolvering with one of Mr. Callixgham's 

 traps on his foot ; the foxes had followed his bleeding track. As this 

 beast went through the thick of the woods, under the north side of the 

 hill, where the snow was so deep and light that it was with the greatest 

 difficulty I could follow him even in Indian rackets, I was quite puzzled 

 to know how he had contrived to prevent the trap from catching hold of 

 the branches of the trees or sinking in the snow. But on coming up with 

 him I discovered how he had managed ; for after making an attempt to 

 fly at me, he took the trap in his mouth and ran upon three legs. These 

 creatures are surprisingly strong in proportion to their size ; this weighed 

 only twenty-six pounds and the trap eight ; yet including all the turns he 

 had taken he had carried it six miles." 



The Wolverene produces young but once a year, from two to four at a 

 litter. Richardson sajs the cubs are covered with a downy fur of a pale 

 or cream colour. The fur of the Wolverene resembling that of the bear, 

 is much used for muffs, and when several skins are sewed together 

 makes a beautiful sleigh-robe. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The Wolverene exists in the north of both continents. On the Eastern 

 continent it inhabits the most northern parts of Europe and Asia, oc- 

 curring in Sweden, Norway, Lapland, and Siberia, as well as in some of 

 the Alpine regions, and in the forests of Poland and Courland. In North 

 America it is found throughout the whole of the Arctic circle. They were 

 caught to the number of ten or twelve every winter by Capt. Cartwright 

 in Labrador. It exists at Davis' Straits, and has been traced across the 

 continent to the shores of the Pacific. It is found on the Russian islands 

 of Alaska. Richardson remarks, " It even visits the islands of the Polar 

 sea, its bones having been found in Melville Island, nearly in latitude 75°. 

 It occurs in Canada, although diminishing in numbers the farther we pro- 

 ceed southerly. We have seen specimens procured at Ne^^^oundland, 

 and have heard of its existence, although very sparingly, in Maine. 

 Professor Emmons, (Dekay, Nat. Hist, of New York) states that it still 

 exists in the Hoosack Mountains of Massachusetts. We examined a 

 specimen obtained in Jefferson county, near Sackett's Harbour, N. Y., in 

 1827, and in 1810 we obtained a specimen in Rensselaer county, latitude 

 42° 46' ; we have never heard of its existence farther south. 



