On the Skunk. 363 



beyond endurance. In the human species we sometimes perceive 

 that a particular faculty has received an extraordinary develop- 

 ment, the result of constant devotion to one subject, whilst in 

 other respects the mind of the individual is of a very ordinary 

 character. The same remark will hold good applied to any par- 

 ticular organ of the body, which, by constant use (like the organs 

 of touch in the blind man,) becomes so improved as to serve as a 

 substitute in others; but in the lower orders of animals this pro- 

 minence in a particular organ is the result of its peculiar confor- 

 mation, or of instinct. Thus, the power of the rhinoceros is 

 exerted chiefly by his nasal horn ; the wild boar relies for defence 

 upon his tusks ; the safety of the kangaroo depends on his hind 

 feet, which not only enable him to make extraordinary leaps, but 

 with which he deals vi2:orous blows ; the bull attacks his foes with 

 his horns ; the rattlesnake's deadly venom is conveyed through its 

 fangs ; and the bee has the means of destroying some of its ene- 

 mies by its sting ; whilst in every other power, for attack or self- 

 defence, these various creatures are comparatively feeble. 



" The skunk, although armed with claws and teeth strong and 

 sharp enough to capture his prey, is slow on foot, apparently timid, 

 and would be unable to escape from many of his enemies, if he 

 were not possessed of a power by which he often causes the most 

 ferocious to make a rapid retreat, run their noses into the earth, 

 and roll or tumble on the ground as if in convulsions ; and not 

 unfrequently, even the bravest of our boasting race is by this little 

 animal compelled to break off his train of thought, hold his nosey 

 and run, as if a lion were at his heels ! 



"Among the first specimens of natural history we attempted to 

 procure was the skunk ; and the sage advice to " look before you 

 leap" was impressed on our mind, through several of our senses, 

 by this species. 



" It happened in our early school-boy days, that once, when the 

 sun had just set, as we were slowly wending our way home from 

 the house of a neighbour, we observed in the path before us a 

 pretty little animal, playful as a kitten, moving quietly along; 

 soon it stopped, as if waiting for us to come near, throwing up its 

 long bushy tail, turning round and looking at us like some old 

 acquaintance ; we pause and gaze : what is it ? It is not a young 

 puppy Of a cat ; it is more gentle than either ; it seems desirous 

 to keep company with us, and, like a pet poodle, appears most 

 happy when only a few paces in advance, preceding us, as if to 



