Hudsonian Skunk 991 



These animals are omnivorous and should have a greatly food 

 varied diet. Table scraps are excellent, but chicken offal, dog- 

 biscuit, milk, oil-cake, mush, johnny-cake, fish, fruit, and 

 insects are acceptable and wholesome food. One meal a day is 

 enough; it should be given in the evening. Two meals are 

 allowable, but should not together exceed the one-meal quantity. 



How much food should each Skunk have ? This is a how 

 matter to be determined by experiment. If the Skunk com- 

 monly leaves good food, you are giving it too much; if it gets 

 thin, you are giving too little. 



A weigh scale is a very good help in determining the latter 

 point. 



A Skunk eats about as much as a common cat, and nearly 

 the same diet — with the addition of insects and fruit. 



By advertising in any country newspaper of the Northern start- 

 States, it will be found easy to get as many live Skunks 

 as desired. From 50 cents to $;^ each would be fair prices, 

 according to age and blackness — the less white on the Skunk 

 the more it is worth. The black Skunk is one with white 

 on head and tail only. The farther north the better the Skunk. 



On arrival all full-grown individuals may be turned man- 



AGE- 



loose in the general run. If any one seems specially quarrel- ment 

 some, it should be shut up by itself; also any weak, small, or 

 young should be kept apart. 



In the month of March or April, according to latitude, the 

 pregnant females are separated and each given a breeding pen 

 to herself. 



If the Skunks do not admit of handling, you can put them 

 in a small cage with a mesh-wire floor, and then examine them 

 from the under side; the distended belly with the enlarged 

 nipples and milk-glands will show which are destined to become 

 mothers. 



These breeders should be extra well-fed and supplied with 

 some fine hay with which to bed their den. 



