er the creature has come upon a store of their
provisions. The name of Glutton, therefore, though based upon Olaus
Magnus's exaggeration, is not so inappropriate.

The glutton and wolverene are, in fact, very like the common badger in
their habits; except that being much larger and stronger animals, they
prey upon larger game. The reindeer, and other large quadrupeds, are
often the victims of both; and it is even said that they can overcome
the great elk; but this is not confirmed by the observations of any
trustworthy traveller. The young of the elk, or a disabled old one, may
occasionally succumb to them, but not an elk in full vigour, nor yet a
reindeer, except when they can surprise the latter asleep. Their game
is usually the smaller quadrupeds; and in the fur countries no animal is
a greater pest to the trapper than the wolverene or glutton. A single
individual will in one night visit a whole line of traps, and rob them
of the captured animals--whether they be polar hares, white or blue
foxes, martens, or ermine weasels.

It is this creature that is usually represented lying in wait upon the
limb of a tree, and springing upon deer as they pass underneath: but
this story of its habits wants confirmation.

The fur of the wolverene is one of the _staple_ articles of trade of the
Hudson's Bay Company; though it is more prized among the Russians than
with us--who esteem it in value as next to the ermine.

The _Common_, or _European badger_, need not be here described, since it
is familiar to all. The same may be said of the two American badgers,
and also that of India, all three of which are very similar in habits
and appearance to the common kind.

But the _African badger_, or _Ratel_, merits a word or two. It is about
the size of the true badger, and ordinarily lives on small game, as
badgers do; but, in addition to this, it is fond of varying its diet
with a little honey. This it procures from the nests of wild bees,
common throughout the whole of Africa. The account given of the mode in
which it finds these nests would be incredible, were it not that we have
the testimony of reverend missionaries to confirm it. It is as
follows:--In Africa there is a bird--a species of cuckoo--known as the
Indicator bird, or honey guide. This little creature hops from tree to
tree, itself apparently in search of the bees' nests. While doing so,
it utters a shrill cry; and these cries are repeated until the honey
hi