982 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



tude on the too near approach of strangers — so suggestive 

 indeed that their visitors commonly beat a hasty retreat. 



Two summers ago I was the happy master of the cleverest young 

 Skunk that I have thus far chanced to meet. For a name he 

 received the title of his genus and we called him 'Meph' for 

 short. By way of precaution I removed his scent sacs, and 

 he made a rapid and complete recovery after a few days of 

 temporary indisposition. While driving about the country in 

 the performance of professional duties, he usually slept in my 

 pocket. After supper I commonly took a walk, and he always 

 followed close at my heels. If I chanced to walk too fast for 

 him, he would scold and stamp with his fore-feet, and if I per- 

 sisted in keeping too far ahead, would turn about, disgusted, and 

 make off in an opposite direction; but if I stopped and called 

 him, he would hurry along at a short ambling pace and soon 

 overtake me. He was particularly fond of ladies, and I think 

 it was the dress that attracted him; but, be this as it may, he 

 would invariably leave me to follow any lady that chanced to 

 come near. We used to walk through the woods to a large 

 meadow which abounded in grasshoppers. Here 'Meph' 

 would fairly revel in his favourite food, and it was rich sport 

 to watch his manoeuvres. When a grasshopper jumped, he 

 jumped, and I have seen him with as many as three in his 

 mouth and two under his fore-paws at one time. He would eat 

 so many that his over-distended little belly actually dragged 

 upon the ground, and when so full that he could hold no more, 

 would still catch and slay them. When so small that he could 

 scarcely toddle about, he never hesitated to tackle the largest 

 and powerful beetle known as 'horned bug,' and got many 

 smart nips for his audacity. But he was a courageous little 

 fellow, and it was not long before he learned to handle them 

 with impunity, and it was very amusing to see him kill one. 

 Ere many weeks he ventured to attack a Mouse, and the 

 ferocity displayed in its destruction was truly astonishing. He 

 devoured the entire body of his victim, and growled and stamped 

 his feet if any one came near before the repast was over. 



