GLUTTON. 
73 
having been discovered in the caverns of Derbyshire, Glamorganshire, and the A"ale 
of Clwyd, while they also occur in the older “forest-bed” of the Norfolk coast. 
Evidence of the former existence of the glutton on the continent has also been 
obtained in the caves of the Dordogne in the south of France. 
In habits the glutton is almost exclusively nocturnal, there being 
Habits. . & 
but few instances of its having been seen abroad during the day; and 
in two of these cases the animal was seen to sit up and shade its eyes with its paws, 
as if suffering from the unaccustomed light. The glutton does not hibernate, and 
there is no marked difference in the colour of the winter and summer coat. In 
spite of its clumsy-looking appearance the animal when disturbed can make off at 
a very rapid pace, and hunters who have occasionally seen a glutton in the shades 
of evening speak of the hopelessness of pursuing it. It likewise ascends rough- 
barked trees with facility, although it is said that its climbing powers are only 
exerted when it scents food. In the pursuit of prey the glutton will readily 
swim rivers. As a rule it is silent, although when attacked it will give vent to 
angry growls. 
Gluttons are found either solitary or in pairs, but generally solitary. During 
the day they live concealed in subterranean holes, which are usually their breeding- 
places, and which are frequently the deserted lairs of bears. In North America 
the young are born in June or July, the number of individuals in a litter being, 
according to Coues, generally four or five, but it is stated that there are sometimes 
only a pair. The young remain with their mother till the following winter, when 
they have to shift for themselves. The Cree Indians state that the mother is 
exceedingly fierce when defending her offspring, and at such times will not hesitate 
to attack human beings. 
In regard to food, it appears that the glutton will devour any animal that it 
can catch and overmaster, and that it is by no means averse to carrion. The 
activity of the animal is such that it can at times, according to Dr. Coues, capture 
such nimble prey as hares and grouse, while disabled or weakly deer are always 
successfully attacked. The stories of its attacking healthy full-grown reindeer 
are, however, improbable. Foxes, rabbits, marmots, etc., are dug out from their 
burrows and eaten. 
Although much exaggerated by the older writers, the voracity of the glutton 
is extreme. It is stated by North American hunters that a freshly-killed animal 
may be safely left out in the woods for the first night, as the glutton will not touch 
it; but the second night the animal will return and gorge itself on the flesh, 
burying such portions as it is unable to consume. So pertinacious, indeed, are 
these animals in quest of slaughtered carcases, that they have even been known to 
gnaw through a thick log of wood and to dig a hole several feet deep in frozen 
ground, in order to gain access to the body of a deer concealed by hunters. 
Gluttons are in the habit of robbing the traps set for other animals, and when 
one of them has discovered a line of marten traps the trapper may as well relinquish 
his trade until he has destroyed the marauder. Every trap along the line will be 
pulled to pieces and the bait or captured marten removed; and after the hunger of 
the glutton is satisfied the remainder of the booty will be buried. Another curious 
propensity of the glutton is its habit of stealing and hiding articles which can be 
