THE WOLVERENE. 



This animal is about twenty-eight inches, from the nofe to the tail, which 

 is feven inches long. The vifage is marp-pointed, and black, as far as the 

 eyebrows; the eyes are fmall and black; the ears fhort, round, and almoft 

 hid in the fur: the hairs of the head, back, and belly, are reddifh, tipped 

 with black, which caufes thofe parts at firft fight to appear quite black : the 

 fides are adorned with a yellowifh-brown band, which is continued quite 

 over the hind part of the back, above the tail; there is a white mark on the 

 throat, and a crefcent of the fame colour on the breaft. The legs are very 

 ftrong, thick, and fhort; the toes are not very deeply divided; they are armed 

 with ftrong and fharp claws, which are white at the ends; the general 

 colour of the legs and feet is a deep black; but the paws of fome individuals, 

 particularly thofe found in Kamtfchatka and the neighbouring iflands, are 

 white. The bottoms of the feet are covered very thickly with hair. In 

 walking, it refts on the foot, as far as the firft joint of the leg, like the Bear: 

 the hair on the tail is of the fame colour as the back; but is fo coarfe and 

 long, as to make that part appear twice its real length. 



The voracious appetite of the Wolverene, caufes it to live in a ftate of 

 continual rapine and depredation : the Horfe, the Elk, the Stag, and the 

 Rein-Deer are frequently the victims of its ferocity, particularly the latter: 

 it is, notwithftanding, fo flow in its motions, that almoft every quadruped 

 would efcape from it, did it not poftefs a degree of cunning and fagacity 

 which amply compenfates for this defect:. Having found a place ufually 

 frequented by the Rein-Deer, they climb up into a tree, carrying with them 

 fome of the mofs, which is the favourite food of that animal. This they let 

 fall on the ground, exactly under the branch on which they have fixed 

 themfelves, and then patiently wait till the unfufpecting Deer comes to eat 

 his beloved mofs; when they inftantly dart down on his back with unerring 

 aim; and fixing themfelves between the horns of the Deer, they tear out 

 his eyes, and torture the poor animal to fuch a degree, that, to put an end to 

 his torment, or, if poftible, to free himfelf from the caufe of it, by deftroying 

 his enemy, he ftrikes his head with great violence again ft the trees, which 

 generally kills him. Having thus brought his prey to the ground, the 



