8 A POACHER. 



turnal, and a more predatory, thievish, treacherous, 

 bloodthirsty poacher you could not ' skeer up.' 

 His residence (which is always by the side of 

 some still pool on the open prairie) consists of a 

 large hole, dug in horizontally a task rendered 

 easy of performance when his powerful digging 

 claws are brought into operation. Beaten roads 

 extend from this hole to the water's edge ; and 

 the entrance to this den is usually strewed with 

 ducks' feathers, the tips of the wings, the heads, 

 beaks, and feet, together with bones deftly picked. 

 Ducks are his favourite birds; but, you ask, 

 how can he possibly catch them? In this way. 

 His instinct guides him to reside near the pools 

 on which water-birds come to sleep and pass the 

 night. When everything is still and hushed, 

 and the unsuspecting birds are floating in fancied 

 security, with their heads tucked under their 

 wings, then out steals the crafty skunk, and 

 creeping noiselessly down his roadways, swims, 

 without the slightest splash, towards the 

 drowsy birds, dives under the one that suits his 

 taste, seizes it by the breast, and, spite of all its 

 flapping, quacking, and struggling, drags the vic- 

 tim ashore, kills, and eats it. He seldom gets more 

 than one in the night ; for the other birds take 

 timely warning, and leave for some safer retreat. 



