438 



THE MAMMALS 



little too much to expect them to know that chickens are a special kind 

 of bird that should not be killed. The rare, but well-known, pandas 

 from the mountains of Tibet are in the raccoon family. 



The Civet Cats. The civet cats are found in oriental countries and 

 the mongoose of India is one of the group. The mongoose is known for 

 its ability to fight and kill cobras. It is not immune to cobra poison, but 

 is so quick that it can tease a cobra into striking and dart in and grab it 

 back of the neck before the cobra can get back into position to strike 

 again. 



Courtesy Chicago Natural History Museum 

 Fig. 28.13. A mink. This bloodthirsty little carnivore has a very valuable coat. 



Courtesy Chicago Natural History Museum 



Fig. 28.14. The badger. 



The Musk-Bearing Carnivores. The skunk is the first animal thought 

 of when animals with an odor are mentioned. It bears special musk 

 glands which can eject an odor, there being none more odoriferous. 

 Confident of this protection, the skunk goes serenely on its way through 

 the forests and is usually given a wide berth by all the other animals. 

 Should some inquisitive animal be rash enough to come too close, the 

 skunk will first raise its tail and wave it as a warning signal, then will 

 give a little jump with its hind legs and squirt a few drops of its musk 

 at the intruder. That will be the last time that intruder will molest any 

 animal even faintly resembling a skunk. 



