248 



BRANCH VERTEBRATA. 



FIG. 431. 



ico. Its webbed feet exhibit an approach to the amphibi- 

 ous mammals. The peculiar position of its eye enables 

 it, with a slight motion of the head, to see the fish 011 

 which it preys, whether swimming above, below, beside, 

 behind, or before. It burrows in the banks of streams, 

 forming an entrance under water, and providing numer- 

 ous cells to occupy, according to the height of the stream. 

 Its pastime of sliding in companies into the water, down 

 a snow-bank in winter and a slippery clay-bank in sum- 

 mer, presents a sin- 

 gular feature of ani- 

 mal life. 



The Skunk is 

 dark brown or black, 

 and is ornamented 

 above with one or 

 two elongated 

 patches of white, 

 which may extend 

 from head to tail ; 

 but individuals dif- 

 fer in their mark- 

 ings. When pro- 

 voked, it emits an intolerable odor that few animals can 

 endure. The fore feet are adapted for digging burrows, 

 in which it hibernates without becoming torpid enter- 

 ing its retreat in the fall, fat, and coming out in the 

 spring, lean. 



The Badger, inhabiting the western part of the United 

 States, has long hair and a short tail. Its stout claws 

 are well adapted for burrowing. Though so peaceable as 

 to resign its nest without a struggle to those much 

 weaker than itseli, it can bite more fiercely than any ani- 



Me phi' Us me plat' ca. Skunk, 



