THE LIVING WORLD. 
629 
finish. It lives in pairs, is nocturnal in its habits, and supports life upon a 
mixed diet of seed, tender roots and insects. If captured before it can use its 
artillery, it is temporarily inoffensive, and as the flesh is not impregnated it 
is used for food. When tamed it seems to lose its natural disposition to ren¬ 
der itself offensive, so that it is probably only when irritated and full of the 
idea of self-defence, that it fills the 
air with an odor whose strength 
and persistence nothing (human at 
least) can withstand. 
The Polecat ( Putorius fcetidus ) 
is more destructive than a weasel, 
for not content with making a re¬ 
past it will destroy every small ani¬ 
mal about it. Its habitat is north¬ 
ern Europe. 
American Mink, Musk Otter, 
Water-polecat, or Vison (. Lutreola 
vison , Putorius vison , or Vison lu- 
treola ), is found in Europe as well 
as in North America. Its fur is 
fine and handsome, but has suf¬ 
fered somewhat in esteem from its 
frequent use as a counterfeit sable. 
It is dark-brown as a rule, but fre¬ 
quently is black on the head and 
white on the jaws. It is a good swimmer and frequents the banks of ponds 
and streams where it can find aquatic animals which may serve as its food. 
The Glutton, or Wolverine ( Gulo luscus), has long been distinguished for 
its capacity as an eater, and for its great ferocity. Many are the stories which 
grew from the fertile imaginations 
of the older naturalists, but most 
of them have been unable to vindi¬ 
cate their claim to consideration. Its 
habitat is North America, Siberia and 
northern Europe. In appearance it 
is not unlike a young bear, brown 
in color, with its muzzle black, and 
spotted white on the lower jaw. 
Where the marten is hunted it robs 
the traps, and where provisions are 
stored it robs the owner. 
The Masked Glutton ( Paguma 
larvata) is Chinese in its habitat, is 
olive in color and takes its name 
from white face markings, which resemble a mask. 
The Wolverine, or Great Weasel ( Carcajou ), will not touch poisoned food, 
fall into a trap or get shot by a spring-gun. It will cut the string of the gun 
and then take the bait. It will steal and hoard up the most worthless articles, 
even sticks and stones. A hunter once upon returning to his hut found that 
AMERICAN WOLVERINE (Gu/o borealis ). 
AMERICAN BADGERS. 
