64 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Aug. -Sept 



THE BROAD-STRIPED SKUNK. 

 (Mephitis hudsonicus Rich.) 



By Norman axd Stuart Criddle. 



The subject of this article, including its various races and 

 relations, covering the continent, has a reputation that none 

 will envy and few appreciate until they come into actual contact 

 with the animal in its vicious moments, when, closely pressed 

 and in danger of death, it gives forth that fetid odor for which 

 it is notorious. 



In modern times it has become an instinct to consider that 

 the name skunk implies an animal wholly obnoxious, and in 

 consequence the name itself has become synonymous of all that 

 is odious and depraved. The impression arrived at is, of course, 

 due to lack of knowledge combined with the far too common 

 practice of exaggeration. We hope in this little sketch to dispel 

 some of these notions and to prove by the narrative that although 

 the odor is very real, it is not necessarily a part of the animal's 

 e very-day life. 



The Broad-striped Skunk was, in days gone by, a common 

 mammal in Manitoba, and at our home at Aweme its numerous 

 encounters with coyote, dog and probably owl, often impregnated 

 the air with an unsavory odor which was far from pleasant. 

 As time went on, however, conditions changed and constant 

 persecution greatly reduced its numbers, so that to-day we have 

 but a remnant of what went before, although the animal seems 

 to be holding its own fairly well in the less-settled districts. 



There are few handsomer mammals than skunks in this part 

 of the world, and of the whole genus few. if an v. equal the species 

 under discussion. Unlike the eastern animal "its stripes of white 

 along the back are broad and prominent and show up strikingly 

 in contrast to the black. In addition, it has a large white patch 

 at the back of its head and a narrow stripe down the nose which 

 often varies sufficiently to enable one to be separated from 

 another; besides this there is the magnificent tail which almost 

 wholly hides the back when held over it. Skunks in many 

 respects are not unlike weasels; this is particularly so of the head, 

 but the body increases in width towards the tail in such a manner 

 as to give the animal a wedged-shaped appearance when viewed 

 from above. In gait they are clumsy. The walk is a wabble, 

 and in running they gallop. They are by no means last in move- 

 ment and it seems that the immunity afforded by the terrible 

 weapon of self-defence has been to some extent acquired at the 

 expense of speed, or possibly with such a weapon speed is no 

 longer nr.-essary. 



