G L U 
G N A 
Travellers^ when crofTing thofe deferted forefts, 
frequently obferve pieces of the fkin of tlie Glut- 
ton fticking to fuch trees againft which it has been 
rubbed by the deer in it's flight. But as this ani- 
mal's voracity is greater than it's feelings, it never 
feizes without fubduing it's prey. When, there- 
fore, the deer, wounded, and faint with the lofs of 
blood, fubmits to it's fate, the Glutton compen- 
fates for it's former abftinence by it's prefent vora- 
city. 
It is really afhonifhing to confider how much 
oneofthefe animals is capable of eating at one 
time. That which Klein faw, though deprived of 
both air and exercife, taken from it's nadve cli- 
mate, and labouring under ill health in confe- 
quence of thefe changes, neverthelefs devoured 
thirteen pounds of flefh every day, and yet re- 
mained unfatisfied. It may thence be eafily ima- 
gined how much more it would have devoured at 
once, after a long fafc, of food congenial to it's 
appetites, and in that climate mod natural to it's 
conftiturion : and we are accordingly informed, 
that, from being a lank, thin animal, it's natural 
figure, it then eats fuch immoderate quantities, 
that it's belly is diftended, and it's whole fhape in 
a great meafure altered. Having enjoyed this vo- 
racious repall, it becomes incapable of any ani- 
mal funftion, lying in a Rate of torpidity clofe to 
the animal it has killed; and in this fituation it 
continues for two or three days. Being thus re- 
duced to a ftate both loathfome and helplefs, it 
derives it's chief protection from it's horrid ftench, 
which few animals dare to approach; and for this 
reafon it is enabled to continue eating and fleeping 
alternately till it's prey is wholly confumed; and 
then it alcends fome tree in order to look out for 
frefh adventures. 
Like many others of the weafel tribe, the Glut- 
ton feems to prefer the moft putrid flefh to that 
newly killed; and, were it's fwiftnefs and ftrength 
equal to It's rapacity, it would foon thin the foreft 
of every other living creature. But, fortunately 
for it's fellow quadrupeds, this animal is fo ilow, 
that the beaver alone is inferior to it in fpeed: 
this creature, therefore, it frequently purfues on 
land; but the beaver generally makes good it's re- 
treat, by taking to the water, in which element the 
Glutton can by no means exift. 
A life of necefllty is generally producflive of fer- 
tile invention : and accordingly the Glutton, con- 
tinually preffed by the calls of hunger, and poflfefT- 
ing neither fwiftnefs nor aftivity to gratify that ap- 
petite, is obliged by ftratagemi to make up for 
the defefts of nature. It oken examines the traps 
and fnares laid for other animals, in order to anti- 
cipate the fowler. It is faid to praftife various 
arts, in order to procure it's prey ; to fceal on the 
rein-deer in their retreats; to lie in wait for fuch 
animals as have been maimed by the hunters; to 
purfue the ifatis while providing for it's own 
wants; and, when that animal has run down it's 
prey, to feize on it, and even fometimes to devour 
the original provider. When every other expe- 
dient fails, the Glutton condefcends to fearch out 
graves; and, after digging up and feeding on the 
inhumed bodies, devours the very bones. For 
thefe reafons this carnivorous animal is held in 
utter deteftation by the natives of thole countries 
it inhabits, v/ho ufually term it the vulture of qua- 
drupeds. Bur, though thus obnoxious and dif- 
gufting to man, thefe creatures do not feem at all 
to dread him; for, according to Gamelin, one of 
them advanced boldly and calmly to a fituation 
where feveral perfons were at work, without be- 
traying the fmallefl apprchenfion, or attempting to 
run away, till it had received feveral blows, which 
at lad totally difabled it. 
The Glutton, like all the reft of it's kind, is a 
folitary animal ; and is never feen in company, ex- 
cept v/ith the female, with v/hich it couples in the 
middle of winter. The latter goes with young 
about four months, and brings forth two or three 
at a time. 
Gluttons burrow in holes likeweafels: the male 
and female are generally feen together; and both 
are equally refolute in defence of their young. 
On fuch occafions the boldeft dogs are afraid to 
approach them, as they fight with the greatefi: ob- 
fi:inacy, and bite with the utmoft feverity : how- 
ever, as they are unable to efcape by flight, the 
hunters generally come up to the afllftance of the 
dogs, and eafily overpower them. Their flefh, as 
may eafily be fuppofed, is not very delicate, but 
their flcins amply recompenfe the hunters for their 
toll and danger. Their furs pofTefs the moft beau- 
tiful luftre imaginable; and are preferred before all 
others, except thofe of the Siberian fox and the 
fable. 
GNAPHEUS. An appellation given by Athe- 
nasus, and other Greek writers, to the tench. 
GNAT. A genus of the order of diptera, or 
two-winged inie6ts, wliofe mouths are furnifhed 
with briftly firings, included in flexile flieaths. 
Gnats proceed from litde worms ufually found 
at the bottoms of ftaofnant waters. The manner 
in which thefe inlefts lay their eggs is peculiarly 
curious and interefting: after having depofited a 
proper number on the furface of the water, they 
furround them with a kind of uncfluous matter, 
which prevents their finking; but, at the lame 
time, connefts them to the bottom by threads, to 
prevent their floating away at the mercy of every 
breeze. Thus thefe iniefts, in their egg ftate, re- 
femble buoys fixed by anchors. As they approach 
towards maturity, they fink deeper; and at laft, 
when they leave the eggs, and become worms, 
they creep at the bottom. After this, they form 
lodgings of cement, which they affix to fome fo- 
lid bodies at the very bottom of the water, unlefs 
they accidentally meet with pieces of chalk, which, 
being of a foft and pliant nature, give them an op- 
portunity of finking retreats for themfelves, where 
the claws of cray-filh only can moleft them. The 
v/orm afterv/ards changes it's form: it appears 
with a large head; and a tail invefted with hair, 
and moiftened with an oleaginous fluid, which 
ferves to fuftain it's body, and to tranfport it from 
one place to another. When the oil with which 
the tail is moiftened begins to grow dry, the in- 
fe6t difcharges an unftuous humour from it's 
mouth, which it fheds over it's tail; and, by virtue 
of this, it is enabled to tranfport itfelf from place 
to place without being incommoded by the wa- 
ter. The Gnat, in it's fecond ftate, is, properly 
fpeaking, a kind of nymph, which is it's intro- 
duction into a new ftate of being. In the firft 
place, it divefts itfelf of it's fecond flcin; in the 
next, it refigns it's eyes, it's antennse, and it's tail; 
and, in fhorr, it feems aftually to expire. How- 
ever, from the remains of the amphibious animal 
a little winged infeCt arifes, aftive in a high degree, 
and whofe whole ftruiSture is a juft objed of our 
admiration: it's little head is adorned with a plume 
of feathers and it's whole body is invefted vv ith 
4 O fcales 
