GLIIT'TON (gala), a genus of quadrupeds usually referred to the bear family (urside), but which interesting connecting-link between that and the weasel family (inustelida), agreeing more nearly with the latter in dentition, although approaching to the former in character. There are three false molars in the upper, and four in the lower jaw, anterior to the carnivorous tooth, which is large and sharp. The body is long, the legs are short, the feet have each five deeply divided toes, terminated by long curved claws. The tail is rather short, a fold beneath the tail supplies the place of the glandular pouch of the badgers; but when hard pressed by enemies, the gluttons emit a peculiar fluid of a strong musky odor. Their habits are nocturnal. The species commonly called GLUTTON, and also WOLVERENE (G. arcticus), is a native of the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America. It is more common in the arctic regions than towards the southern limits of its distribution, which are about the forests of Courland, in Europe, and the mountainous parts of Massachusetts, in America. It is about 2 ft. 6 in. or 2 ft. 9 in. in length, from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail; the tail about 7 or 8 in. long, both body and tail covered with long hair, under which the body is covered with a rich thick fur. The general color of the long hair is brown, sometimes approaching to black, lighter hands passing from the neck along the flanks, and meeting at the tail. The short fur is chestnut brown. The muzzle is black.
A light-brown band runs across the forehead from ear to ear. The fur of the glutton is sometimes of considerable value, and is used for muffs, cloaks, etc., but varies not a little in glossiness and other qualities. The most extraordinarystories were at one time credited concerning the ferocity, voracity, and cunning of this animal, and luxe not altogether disappeared from books of natural history. It is very capable of domestica tion, and even in a wild state exhibits no remarkable ferocity; nor is there any reason to believe that it leaps from trees on deer, or pursues any of those artful methods of procuring food which were once ascribed to it. It often preys on animals which it has not itself killed. The smaller quadrupeds are its principal food, and it devours young foxes in great numbers. Its speed is not great, but it excels in strength and persever ance. The traps set for the smaller kinds of animals in the fur countries of North America are very often robbed by the wolverene, and it has been known to remove a great pile of wood, in order to get at provisions which had been hidden under it.- Closely allied to the glutton are the grison and the rate]. Bone-caverns and some of the newest deposits exhibit remains of more than one species of glutton.