Qjlt I c k-H atch, or Wolverene. 
T his Beaft feems to be near double the Bignefs of a common Tax : To the 
beft of my Memory it was of the Size of ibme Wolves I have feen brought from 
Germany ; in walking, its Back rifes arch-ways ; it carries its Head pretty low ; it 
refts the whole Length of its Feet quite to the Heels or firft Joints of the Legs on 
the Ground,, when it walks, fo that the Belly is not far from the Ground : As to its 
Look it has fomething in it between the Fox and Bear ; the Top of the Head and 
Snout is very broad, when viewed front- ways, and the Feet pretty broad j approach- 
ing in Proportion near to thofe of a Bear i the Tail is of a middling Length, and 
fomething bulhy toward its Tip. 
All the Snout, upper and under Jaw, as far as the Eyes, is of a Black-colour the 
Forehead above becomes gradually of a whitilh Colour ; the Eyes are of a dark Colour^; 
the Throat and lower Side of the Neck is White, firfl; fpotted with Black, having 
fome tranfverfe Bars of Black on the under Side of the Neck 5 the Ears are fmall and 
round, appearing but little longer than the Hair that grows on the Head, they are 
covered with Ihort brown Hair 3 the hind Part of the Head and Neck, the whole 
Body both above and beneath,, the Legs, and the Tail, are all of a Brown or Chefnut 
Colour, clouded lighter and darker ^ viz. the upper Side of the Neck and Beginning 
of the Back is Dusky, or very dark Brown, which gradually changes to a lighter, or 
more pleafant Brown, -in the Middle of the Back ; this Colour again grows by De- 
grees darker, till it becomes almofl Black in the hind Pkrt' of the &ck: The Tail to- 
ward the Tip becomes of a Dusky-colour 5 it hath a broad Bar of very light adi-co- 
lour’d Brown paffing round the Body, beginning on each Shoulder, proceeding on 
the Sides backward, and meeting on the Rump, juft above the Tail, where it is 
broadeft ; the Fur of the whole Body is pretty long, and feems not to lie fo flat to 
the Skin as in fome Animals ; all the Feet, as far as the Heel, or firft Joint, are 
covered with fliort black Hair, which gradually becomes Brown above the Knees ; the 
Claws are of a light Horn Colour 5 it hath on each Foot forward four Toes; the 
hind' Feet have five Toes each. 
This Animal was brought from Hudfon's-Bayi the moft Northern inhabited Part of 
America : It lived feveral Years at Sir Hans Sbane'^ Houfe in London y and feemed to 
be a harmlefs, gentle Creature ; it would follow like a Dog ; in its Progreifion it 
formed a circular Flourifh,, turning quite round every few Paces it made: I believe 
this Motion was not natural, but owing to its having loft an Eye, for it turn’d off 
always on the Side where the Eye was wanting. My Friend, Mr. Light y fays, he 
has kill’d many of them in Hudfon" s~Bay (where they are taken for their Furs) and 
that they are a fierce Creature in making Defence, when wounded with a Gun, or 
taken in Traps j that they will tear the Stock from the MufKet-barrel with their 
' Teeth, when the Hunter goes to difpatch them after they are wounded 5 and that 
they often do more Damage to Traps and Gins by biting and renting, than the 
Value' of their Furs amount to : I believe there hath been no Account or Figure 
yet given of this Beaft. 
