The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-07-09
A PAIR OF WOLVERINES
THE STRANGE BEASTS IN THE
PHILADELPHIA ZOO.

~ NStuIU
History-Fight Worse Than a Grix.l
Bea,-How This Pair Of Rare Animal
Wa Obtained and How They 1.-Two.
Superintendent Brown, of the Zoologi
cal garden, is happy; Head Keeper Byrne
is radiant and every under keeper reflect
the happiness and cheerfulness Of theil
superiors. A pair of wolverines has beer
received at the garden AMI bid fair to live
grow and otherwise conduct themselves
as well regulated wolverines should.
A visit to the garden brought forth .
most interesting talk from Head Keeper
Byrnes, which was supplemented by a
long and accurate scientific description
Of the gulo ~luscus, as this animal is called.
What is particularly gratifying is the
fact that this pair, now in possession OF
the Philadelphia Geological garden, is
the only pair known to be in captivity,
and for that matter no other garden has
even a single specimen.
SOLE NATURAL HISTORY.
The animal belongs to the badger
family and is extremely shy and retiring
in disposition. 1t is u habitant of the
entire northern hemisphere and is not
very plentiful in any locality. 1t has
been known to biologists for u long time,
yet about it have been related more mar.
velous tales than even of the salamander
or chameleon.
All over the world where it is found
native hunters tell incredible tales of its
ferocity and voracity. As far back as 1889
Olaf Maginus, Il Scandinavian writer,
mentions the wolverine and tells how,
after gorging itself with food, it will try
to squeeze itself between two closely
growing trees to enable it to digest its
meals, after which it will again return
to devour more.
Every district nearly gives it u name
and it is Unfortunately called the In
dian devil, the glutton, the quick hatch,
the carcajou.
Linnaus describes the animal under
the name of the II eyed glutton, and
the term n eyed is supposed to have
come from the fact that the only speci-
men he ever saw or heard described was
blind in one eye.
The western trappers give the VOL
VERNE u reputation for craftiness, cun-
ming and general devilishness euualel by
no other animal. They claim that it
will fight worse than a grizzly bear. In
fact, a scout of Superintendent Browns
described to him a fight between a VOL
VERNE and Il she grizzly with two half
grown culs, in which the wolverine
conquered its opponents, and declared
that he witnessed the whole battle from
u tree.
Of course the shyness and suspicious /
ness of the animal has much to do with
these tales, but there is no doubt that it
is far more powerful than one would
suspect from its size, which is about that
Of a half grown setter dog. It is a terror
% trappers from the way it will steal the
from their traps. and if caught will
tight desperately.
The little ones at the garden now have
already proved their ~ferocity by chewing
he hands of two Of the keepers who i'm
'rudently handled them.
HOW H GARDEN GOT THEM.
How the Zoo obtained the specimens
t now has is q most interesting story,
A specimen was sent to the garden some
years ago which had been caught in
trap in Idaho, and had its foot badly
orn.
This was never put on exhibition. as
t died about half an hour after its arri-
al, but it was stuffed and is now on ex.
lbition in the superintendent's private
oom. Some six years ago as superip-
.ndent Brown was returning from a
uniting trip in the west, he stopped in
furrier's in Chicago, where he saw a
7olverine's skin. One word led to an
ther, and he made arrangements with
firm that if they heard of any live
mes being captured to notify him.
The other day he received a telegram
;ating that the father and mother hay-
lg t been shot he could obtain a pair ,
young wolverines if he desired them. :
10 receive such news was to a man Of
energy and decision equivalent to
avlng them, so in answer to his prompt
ply expressing an earnest desire to get
lem the young animals were SEM on,
hey arrived in excellent condition and
q now occupying comfortable quarters
Ear the aviary. =
Their appetite for small birds, the food
at Is given them, has not as vet been
lywhere near satisfied. and they seem >
well deserve their popular name of
atton. In appearance at the present
ne they resemble a large skunk, hav-
g the same long body, long hair and !
ort legs.
They have II habit of sitting up on
cir launches and shading their ewes
tn one paw whenever anything at. pl
acts their attention. u
Head Keeper Byrnes says that though
~ haven't been with him long enough
notice their habits correctly, yet he
MT believe they are half as bad as thew
> said to be. Though" he added. 9
hey did nearly chew up the hand of a
reless keeper"
is confident that he will be able to
SO them successfully, and even now
ia around to their cage and gazes
ectionately at the pets every ten
or SC.
superintendent Brown explained their
bits and told many tales he had heard
these beasts and seemed delighted
having found specimens of an animal M
other geological garden has, or prob
y will be able to get for some time to
ne.-Philadelphia Times. -