1870.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
•±51 
The Wolverine.— {G-ulo luscus.) 
The "Wolverine, now rare in the United States, 
but abundant further North, is probably identi- 
cal with the Glutton of Northern Europe and 
Asia. Some naturalists have even endeavored 
to establish two species on this Continent, but 
:is the differences de- 
pend almost solely 
upon color, the new 
species could not 
be accepted. The 
Wolverine is merci- 
lessly slaughtered 
by hunters when- 
ever found, and 
huuted relentlessly 
where its presence 
is suspected, not be- 
cause of its value, 
for its fur is of little 
account, but for its 
destruction, as it 
causes the trappers 
great damage by 
destroying the lines 
of Sable traps for 
the sake of the bait. 
The animal is about 
three feet long, with 
a tail six inches in 
length, covered with, 
long hairs. The 
head is broad and 
thick, but the muzzle sharp. The feet are 
five-clawed, and very large, giving the animal 
the ability to walk upon the snow. So large are 
they that its tracks are occasionally mistaken 
for those of the black bear. In color, different 
individuals vary greatly. The muzzle is dark 
to the eyebrows, across which a lighter band 
passes, which extends down upon the side and 
passes over the rump. The rest of the body is 
dark brown above, and the legs, tail, and under 
parts are nearly black. In some of its charac- 
teristics the Wolver- 
ine closely resem- 
bles the bear, and 
it was regarded as a 
bear by Liunreus ; 
now, however, our 
best naturalists clas- 
sify it with the ot- 
ters and weasels, 
with which it has 
apparently less af- 
finity. It may, in- 
deed, be regarded as 
forming with badg- • 
ers and raccoons, 
a chain of associat- 
ing links between 
the more positively 
marked animals of 
these families. The 
female has usually 
but two young ones 
at a litter, hence the 
species does not 
multiply rapidly, 
and lias gradually 
of late years be- 
come extinct over a large part of the Uuion 
where it once abounded. It is said to have 
been common in the mountains of Tennessee 
and Carolina, but is now rare, even in Michigan. 
Most of the marvelous tales told of the Glutton 
aud Wolverine, are purely fiction, or have a 
basis only in the fact of the Lynx or some other 
animal having been mistaken for this one. 
It has a very acute sense of smell, and will 
scent out the caches, or places where arctic hunt- 
ers deposit their provisions, and its strength is 
so great that it will often dig under or uncover 
them, though loaded down with logs and stones. 
It climbs trees, but is not at home in them. On 
THE WOLVERLNE. — (Gulo ItlSCUS.) 
the whole, it is one of those few animals which 
are of no use to man, aud with so many hurtful 
traits that its extermination will not be regretted. 
Swine of the South Sea Islands. 
We have been much interested lately in see- 
ing aud learning the peculiarities and merits of 
some swine from the Southern Pacific Islands, 
imported by Mr. Jas. P. Swain, of Bronxville, 
^fe.. 
SOUTU SEA ISLAND SWINE. . 
N. Y., who is known to the readers of the 
Agriculturist as a breeder of discrimination, aud 
on the lookout for valuable neglected breeds, 
crosses, aud points, in our domestic animals. 
The pigs, shown in the engraving, are young, 
of breeding age, perhaps a year old, aud weigh 
about 150 pounds. The request for further in- 
formation elicits the following from Mr. Swain : 
"You ask for information in regard to South 
Sea Island Pigs. Of one thing I can answer 
you, your artist has made a most truthful draw- 
ing of them, even to the peculiar pigish ex- 
pression of their faces. As to the origin of 
these pigs, I must refer } _ ou to some one more 
learned in the sci- 
ence of pigolog}-. 
The Hon. S. K Ma- 
son says that these 
pigs were plenty in 
all the islands fifty 
years ago, so plenty 
that four yards of 
calico would pur- 
chase a pig weigh- 
tffl ing fifty pounds, and 
=| three yards one of 
^5 seventy-five pounds, 
~* and two yards one 
_^> weighing over one 
hundred pounds. A 
pig of fifty pounds 
■was large enough 
for a feast, and a 
larger one was more 
trouble to kill and 
cook and not so ten- 
der. Mason found 
them on the newly 
discovered islands, 
under and south of 
the Equator, and 
plenty on all those islands, and does not think 
there was time after the voyages of Capt. Cook 
to so thoroughly disseminate them. The}' have 
been left by our whale ships at the island of 
Barbadoes, and now they are quite plenty there. 
Their meat is unquestionably the sweetest of 
any pork known. I imported some about 
twenty years ago, gave them away freely, cross- 
ed them with others, and was better pleased 
with them than any other breed I ever tried. 
My neighbors liked them, but as they did uot 
• • cost any thing, they 
took no care of 
them, and they be- 
came extinct in a 
few years, or so 
mingled with oth- 
ers, that they are no 
longer known. You 
will see that they 
are, unlike the wild 
pigs of Europe, 
heavy in the hind- 
quarters, while the 
wild boar is heavy 
in the fore-quarters. 
I think there is a 
slight resemblance 
between these and 
the China and Sand- 
wich Island pigs. I 
now intend to cross 
these pigs with Suf- 
folks, and sell the 
pigs at a first-rate, 
humbug price — say 
three or four times 
as much as they are 
worth, aud see if they will not be appreciated. I 
should judge that every thing in the Essex that 
is valued came from this breed of pigs. But as 
these pigs were never owned nor bred by II. R. 
II. Prince Albert, Earl Ducie, or Lord Wcnlock 
— were never exhibited at any Royal Agricul- 
tural Show, I fear they will not be much valued." 
