The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-03-06

anguStla inter arb0TeS Sc StTlnElJ Ut VlolanCluS
egerat," etc Goldsmith softens the behavior
of this "vulture of quadrupcds," as ho calls
the glutton, and asserts that when replete he
merely sinks into n state of coma by the side of
his prey, and there, protected by that tetid
secretion so offensive 10 other animals, waits
till he is able TO gorge himself again.
There are numerous accounts OF the Won
dertul sagacity, strength and acute smell
which HeaSno attributes to the wolverine, and
for the most part they are true. IL may be
somewhat of overstatement upon Lord
Southesk's part to assert that no beast is so
cunning as the glutton," aud that " u fox is n
sucking dove compared with him y; but the
accounts given by Gibson, Lock hart and others,
Of how the carcaiou obtains its food are while
reliable, altogether surprising. In the snow
over which his trapping walk lies, the do
spoiled fur-huntor " reads the signs" OF this
creatures manuveTs, observes Robinson, rs
readily and truly as if he had been personally
presenb and witnessed the whole scene" Lord
Milton and DIR. Cheadle state that " tho fur
hunters greatest enemy is tho North American
glutton," and without further reference TO au-
thoritiGs, most of whose relations are substan-
TALLY the same, the following may DO taken rs
n reliable abstract of what this animal is Capa-
BILE Of doing.
LATE IN THE GLOOMY NORTHERN AUTUMN,
when pcltries arc at their best, the traps are set
along line, often several miles in length,
known to be most frequented by the fur bearing
animals Very frequently this is q portage
between two lakes. At the same time the
restless wandering wolverine, n solitary crca-
ture who never hunts in company, has galloped
over the barrens and through the woods per
fectly conscious of his opportunity and conf
dent in his ability to despoil the trappor.
Striking the trail, nothing can throw him oil.
He sees through every strategcm devised for
that purpose If it should carry him TO lake
shore, he will make a circuit and pick il up on
the other side. "Dead-t falls" arc simple con
trivanCes which the carcaiou understands
thoroughly. He breaks in at the side or back,
takes the bait or capture, aud not infTcquently
tears down the structure and hides its pieces
separately in sn0w-pits. Exhibits in fact, the
designed and malicious mischief that wild elc-
plants frequently display. In case the trapper
blocks his path and places n spring-gun by the
remaining approach, tho trail indicates that
the animal will often inspect it carefully, fire
off the muskct and make way with the bait.
Should il be set in tree, so rs to shoot him
from above, he has been been known to ascend
the slOping trunk, at least so il may be pre-.
sumed since the wolverine cannot climb n ycrti-
cal one, and then cut the gun lose with his teeth
When this creature Is caught in teel-trap
instead of gnawing OF his leg like fox, he
picks il up in this mouth and dcCamps. For
the most part hares, Jennings, and the smaller
animals, with birds. form the principal food of
the glutton. Ii is mistake to suppose il voLy
destructive TO beaver, simply because the latter
can always escape 10 the water when his house
is broken open. With foxes, however, this
is not the case and great numbers arc de-
stroyed by wolverines, who dig
DOWN TO THEIR DENs.
Food of any kind placed upon platforms raised
on piles is sure 10 DO taken by cutting down
the uprights. Caches. unless of the most mass
i've construction, do not thwart the carcajou =
perseverance, aud strength and there is good
authority for the prevalent belief that having
entered one Of these. and taken all 1t can con-
sumo, the creature will so dello what remains
as TO make II useless.
Finding cabin in the forest. whose inmates
arc temporarily absent. IL will probably enter
and steal everythng that can be carried away.
| Articles the most inconRruOus and useless are
| thus purloiued, and all carefully hidden in
! different places. Fur.hunters have taken tho
utmost pains To hide skins. and have oblitcrnted
| all traces of their work, but upon returning they
| found the deposit gone, while the animal, as If
/ in dcrison had restored the place 10 its former
| condition. Many men who lived in the country
| OF the glutton maintain that 10 frequently
conceals prey in trees and certainly IL docs
! hide what cannot be consumed at once. which
| il has 10 objection 10 devOur after putre fac
| ton has begun. Farmers on the borders Of the
| Wermeland aud Daecarlan forests of Sweden
| lose quantities oil sheep from the glutton :
| dcpredatons. and it is said to exhibit the
wease.like trait of killing from tho mere love
| oil blood as long as any creature it can destroy
! remains alive. Curiosity is one of tho w0lvcr.
encs most marked traits. It's oversight, how
ever, is poor, aud when IL observes d man, il
will scat itself on its launches aud stare at
him, shading the eyes with one paw till, il
he bo to leeward, aud the beasts keen scent
docs not apprise IL Of human proximity, the
hunter may often get within range. Upon the
whole. what with its natural endowments aud
habits. and the fables which these have given
rise to amid an environment eminently calcn
lated TO foster their growth it is scarcely sur
prising that Gulo should have become so promi
neut in folklore and myth, aud that stories d
his preternatura capacities and conduct should
have been rife among the populati ons OF tho,
countries which he infcsts
| To BE- Continued