^56 
CARNIVORA. 
pouch that distinguishes the latter. It is, however, 
more active than the plantigrades in general, and 
does not retire during the winter, though it is a 
native of high northern latitudes in Europe, Asia, 
and America. 
The voracity of this animal, though it has been 
ridiculously exaggerated by some dealers in the mar- 
vellous, is very remarkable ; and its cruelty is said 
to be commensurate with it. When a sufficient 
supply of small quadrupeds and birds is not to be 
procured, it will lurk on the horizontal branch of a 
tree, and drop on deer, horses, &c., that may pass 
beneath. These it destroys by sucking their blood, 
till faintness and loss of strength sink them a com- 
plete captive to this voracious animal, which will 
conceal its superabundance for a future meal. When 
tamed, it has been known to devour thirteen pounds 
weight of flesh in a day. 
Edwards describes a variety of this species, under 
the name of quick-hatch, or wolverene, from a spe- 
cimen which had lost an eye ; and, from this cir- 
cumstance alone, Linnasus applied to it the epithet 
luscus as a specific term. It appears not to vary 
from the common glutton in any constant characters, 
though it is in general of a paler colour. 
