496 BIG GAME OF NORTH AMERICA. 



believe the animal would win could we find some way to 

 reduce the size of the wood-pile about one-half. 



Cuvier, Hearne, Griffith, and nearly all the Old World 

 writers, also fell into the error of supposing the Glutton 

 and Wolverine to differ in form and character. 



Coues has critically compared the European Glutton with 

 examples from the United States- and the British Posses- 

 sions, and finding only such differences as frequently occur 

 in specimens from any given locality, modestly concludes 

 in the following language: "The identity of the animals of 

 the two continents is to be considered fairly established, 

 whatever range of variation in size and color either may 

 present." 



Previous to the construction of the Canadian Pacific 

 Railway, nearly everyone who had written more than a few 

 lines upon the habits of this animal, had -gladly accepted 

 whatever they could get from the courteous officers of the 

 Hudson' s Bay Company, who, in turn, were usually obliged 

 to get their information from the Indians and white trap- 

 pers of that region. While it may now seem an easy matter 

 to testify to' the correctness of this hearsay evidence, it 

 should be remembered that no one man can do so from per- 

 sonal experience; that many of the Hudson's Bay posts no 

 longer exist; that the home of the Wolverine is still hun- 

 dreds of miles north of the railroad; that the most desira- 

 ble points have only one mail a year, and that in that 

 sparsely settled region the few competent to furnish infor- 

 mation are either unknown to the outside world or do not 

 wish to trouble themselves for the advancement of science 

 alone. Under these conditions, verification has been dif- 

 ficult; and we may well forgive the exaggeration of the 

 earlier writers, while quoting from Pope in my own behalf: 



"If I am right, Thy grace impart 

 Still in the right to stay; 

 If I am wrong, oh, teach my heart 

 To find the better way." * 



From a mass of manuscript relating to the fauna of 

 the North, collected by the Smithsonian Institution in times 



