The GLUTTON.
This ſingular animal, on account of the length of body, and ſhortneſs of legs, appears to belong to the Weaſel tribe. Mr. Pennant allots it with the Bear—it has a roundiſh head, with a blunt noſe, ſhort ears, limbs large and ſtrong, tail very buſhy, general colour black, with a broad horizontal ſtripe, of a yellowiſh colour, along the upper part of the face, the ſides, and the tail.
The great voracity of this animal has fixed upon it the opprobrious name it bears. If the active ſpeed which wild animals in general poſſeſs fell to the ſhare of the Glutton, he muſt inevitably ſoon thin the foreſt of its inhabitants, but the cautious hand of Nature has guarded againſt his voracity by a body ill-formed for celerity; thus diſqualified for purſuit, yet ever preſſed by an active appetite, it has recourſe to cunning and ſtratagem. Selecting a tree whoſe ſituation is promiſing, or obſerving on the bark the marks of the teeth or horns of the deer, or other beaſt, he readily aſcends, and, hiding among the ſpreading branches, he will there wait for weeks together, expecting ſome unwary animal to paſs under, which he inſtantly drops upon, fixing his teeth and claws into the neck, digs a paſſage to the great blood veſſels, which lie in thoſe parts—in vain the tortured animal flies for relief among the branches of the foreſt, the Glutton ſtill holds his ſtation; and, although it often loſes parts of its ſkin and fleſh, which are rubbed off againſt the trees, yet it ſtill ſticks faſt, the force of appetite and nature prevail more than his feelings; and he never ſeizes, but he brings down his prey, wearied by fatigue, and faint by loſs of blood: the moment of victory rewards for former trouble, and he then makes up for paſt fatigue by immediately falling to, and ceaſes not, till overgorging has deſtroyed every animal function; thus torpid through ſatiety, he lies till nature qualifies him to renew the feaſt, which he does not quit till entirely eaten up bones and all. As ſuch a bountiful repaſt cannot always ſupply his voracity, he uſes much cunning to procure his prey; he will frequently anticipate the ſportſman by clearing his traps of the game; he ſteals upon the retreat of other animals, particularly the rein deer, of whoſe fleſh he is greedily fond: he alſo lies in wait, and falls upon the game other animals have run down, his conſtant neceſſities producing a pretty fertile invention. One of theſe animals confined at Dresden conſumed thirteen pounds of fleſh every day, and yet not ſatisfied. The Glutton inhabits the northern parts of Europe, Siberia, and America; its ſkin is highly eſteemed for a beautiful gloſs and damaſked appearance; in length it is about three feet and a half, and eighteen or twenty inches high.
