WEASEL FAMILY 



133 



Tiiat which particularly distinguishes the 

 Skunk from other animals is its means of de- 

 fense, which is a musky secretion having a most 

 powerful and disagreeable odor. In addition to 

 its terrible odor, the fluid is so intensely acid 

 that it burns the skin like fire. In extreme cases 

 such a discharge has been known to produce 

 blindness. The fluid is yellow in color, some- 

 what phosphorescent, and resembles musk in its 

 extraordinary volatility. The discharge at any 

 one time is scarcely three drops, yet this small 

 quantity will perfume the air for a half mile or 

 more in every direction. The fluid or secretion 

 employed by the Skunk in protecting himself is 

 stored in two glands located under the tail, and 



from the glands, and the apparatus is ejected 

 a short distance from the end of the digestive 

 tract when the essence is to be delivered. This 

 arrangement easily explains the absence of the 

 odor on the Skunk immediately after using its 

 weapon of defense. 



Skunk fur has always been in demand, and 

 for several years past the price has greatly in- 

 creased. The black fur is the more valuable, 

 but the coloring of fur is now so largely prac- 

 ticed that it makes little difference how much 

 white there is, for the skins all go through the 

 dye to make them uniform in color. After dye- 

 ing, cutting, and making, few suspect that the 

 fashionable "Alaska Sable " furs in our city shop 



STRIPED SKUNK 



The Skunk, like the Porcupine, is fearless of other animals and man, 

 for it knows that its natural weapons will cause it to be left 

 undisturbed 



may be ejected by muscular contraction to the 

 distance of about ten feet. The contents of the 

 glands are discharged, probably one or both at a 

 time, as the occasion demands, in the form of 

 a very fine spray. When the Skunk is facing 

 you there is no danger that he will discharge his 

 artillery. It is only when he turns tail toward 

 the enemy that there need be alarm. Many 

 believe that the Skunk scatters the essence with 

 his tail, but this is entirely incorrect, for the 

 Skunk is a very cleanly animal, and during the 

 discharge the tail is arched high above the back 

 to keep it undefiled. If he were to wet his tail 

 with the essence, he would attract many enemies 

 in the vicinity, and without doubt it is a matter 

 of both prudence and comfort for him to remain 

 free from the stench. The Skunk is provided 

 with a special apparatus for discharging the 

 fluid, which is connected with the ducts leading 



windows come from little bicolored animals, 

 called " wood-pussies " by the country folk. 



The home of the Skunk is usually in a burrow 

 in the forest which it digs with its powerful 

 claws, but it may also take possession of a de- 

 serted Woodchuck's burrow, a cave, hollow log, 

 or a stone wall. The den contains a large bed 

 of grass and leaves, and here the young are 

 born in the spring. When the young are about 

 a quarter grown, they follow the mother on night 

 excursions in search of food, and while moving 

 from place to place they go in single file, form- 

 ing a line fifteen to twenty feet in length. The 

 yoimg may be captured in the following manner : 

 The would-be captor takes his place behind the 

 line, and noiselessly approaches the rear Skunk, 

 lifting it quickly from the ground by the tail. 

 This may be nervous work for the novice, but is 

 entirely safe, for when a Skunk is thus lifted 



