, on which the animals
are slung--the boys carrying the skins and lard; the dogs too are well
fed during this period, and seem to return with regret. A cloud of
vultures generally hover over them, and are seen by their clans a day
or two before they arrive, who make every preparation to receive them;
their return is greeted like that of victors. The rainy nights are
passed in recounting their exploits one to another."

The habits of the badger are said to be "the most social of any
quadruped in the universe; it is not known to quarrel with any other
animal; even the fox, polecat, opossum, land crab, and snake, make it
resign its abode, although it is much stronger than any of them. It
also lives in the greatest harmony with its own species, subsisting
principally on nuts, roots, and vegetables; it is cleanly in its
habits, being observed to perform its ablutions while the dew is on the
ground."

THE GLUTTON.

This animal, which is called _wolverene_ in this country, and _carcajou_
by the Canadians, is about three feet long, and of a dark-brown color.
It is strong and courageous, and will even attack and destroy the fox
in its burrow. Its extraordinary voracity gives the impulse to all its
exertions. Incessantly in search of food, it kills animals larger and
stronger than itself, seizes the deer which the hunter has just shot,
plunders the baits on his traps, or the game these have taken. A proof
at once of the strength, the cunning, and the strong appetite, of the
glutton, was afforded by one, at Hudson's Bay, some years since, which
overset the greatest part of a pile of wood of great extent, which
contained a whole winter's firing; his object was to get at some
provisions that had been hidden there by the company's servants when
going to the factory to spend the Christmas holidays.

This animal had for many weeks been lurking about their tent, and had
committed many depredations on the game caught in their traps and
snares, as well as eaten many of the foxes that were killed by guns set
for the purpose; but he was too cunning to touch either gun or trap
himself. The people thought they had adopted the best method to secure
their provisions, by tying them in bundles, and laying them on the top
of wood piles. To their astonishment, when they returned, they found
the greatest part of the pile thrown down, notwithstanding some of the
trees with which it was constructed were as much as two men could
carry. The wood