Hudsonian Skunk 981 



I have had several tame Skunks, some of them in full pos- 

 session of their powers, and rarely have had cause to rue the 

 adoption of such unfragrant pets. Still there was always 

 danger of strange dogs rushing in unwittingly and provoking 

 a round of the irresistible 'scatter-gun.' 



One of these Skunks was killed by a meal of very strong 

 cheese; this was always thought to be a rare tribute to the 

 strength of that particular brand. 



His final death struggle culminated in a grand discharge 

 of his battery, a parting salute to the earth and his friends, and 

 the cheese. 



It is quite possible to disarm a Skunk, not by kindness, but dis- 

 by a surgical operation as "performed by Dr. J. M. Warren, of 

 Boston, in the year 1849. It consists in making an incision 

 through the skin directly in front of the anus and in snip- 

 ping the ducts of the glands and the basis of the nipple-like 

 papillae, which projects into the gut just within the sphincter. 

 Adhesive inflammation follows and permanently occludes 

 the ducts at the point of division. Therefore, although 

 the glands themselves are left in situ, the animal is for- 

 ever after incapable of ridding himself of their contents."' 

 {Merriam.) 



My own experiences with tame Skunks have been slight 

 compared with those of Dr. Merriam, therefore I quote from 

 his account:' "Skunks, particularly when young, make very 

 pretty pets, being attractive in appearance, gentle in disposition, 

 interesting in manners, cleanly in habits — rare qualities indeed! 

 They are playful, sometimes mischievous, and manifest con- 

 siderable affection for those that have the care of them. I have 

 had, at diff^erent times, ten live Skunks in confinement. 

 ******* 



From some of them I removed the scent bags, but the 

 greater number were left in a state of nature. None of 

 them ever emitted any odour, although a couple of them, 

 when half grown, used to assume a painfully suggestive atti- 



°Mam. Adir., 1884, pp. 78-9. ^ Ibid., pp. 73-5. 



