GREATEST EATER ON EARTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14853, 2 December 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

GREATEST EATER ON EARTH.

WOLVERINE V. TASMANIAN ■■ > 'DEVIL. <- The Zoological Society has obtained two fine specimens of gluttons known in the more polite circles of zoology as Gulo luscus, and the unofficial story of how they came to reside in - the zoo adds one more to . the comedies which ; have been told about the ; historic home of the animals. ■~' ■'.[.'' .'■■ , '-~:•■',;■*'."/.'■;■;/

They arc at present in the civets" cage at the'north end of the gardens, and their home is chiefly noteworthy for the; fact that it does not possess a notice to s tho effect that these animals arc not to bo fed, but' in : its place one which informs the visitor that they are acquired "by exchange." The Copenhagen Zoo was overcrowded with gluttons The. animal was interesting as an exhibit, but, after all, too many gluttons might prove an expensive luxury. If the Copenhagen' Zoo got rid of two or their greediest exhibits, it would * make an appreciable difference to their food bill. The London Zoo had no gluttons, and so one imagines the Copenhagen authorismiling. • inwardly— them over with huge delight, thinking themselves well rid of such old and.tried gourmands. . • . ~ \,'

At the same time/the London Zoo could easily spare two of their Tasmanian devils, though the exchange might seem rather rash. "." . i

That was how; the case appeared, but this theory was upsot'by. the keeper, who —in between intervals of violent outbursts of mi-declared : "Tho glutton is a big eater; he can do his share—-but the Tasmanian devil!!!! ■ . . . 'It will eat until it bursts !" Thus was the comedy revealed. - In any case the London Zoo seems to Have by far the best of the bargain.. According to the keeper the glutton is an epicure who will not touch anything that is not pleasing to its taste. It scorns buns and despises j ; ( monkey-nuts.;■ It is so fastidious that when :in its native, haunts it slays game it; will -'-like the true epicure—not consume it until it has been " hung," or. in other words, it hides its food until it has lost its freshness. ,:It eat* a. lot, but knows tho Jaws of nature. This is not so with the Tasmanian devil. . '■>■ -■

The keeper, declared that , lie 'often warned visitors that it was pure waste of money attempting, to satisfy,the appetite of the Tasmanian ■■ devil. ; Even after the most prosperous bank-holiday thi« animal would hunt round for empty bags. "I do believe they would have licked the paint off the bars of their cage if wo had repainted them," he said. ...;':- The glutton is an extremely fierce animal. A notice •is placed above the cage warning visitors that thev bite. They are known in America as wolverine, owing to the fact that, they will attack packs of wolves and tear them to pieces.