182 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



the fine handkerchiefs mother washes blow away down 

 the fiekl, I can find them in the darkest night." 



" Then you can understand that the Skunk, who is 

 sufficiently protected by his evil odor, may wear this 

 striped flag to warn other animals not to come upon 

 him too suddenly. Here, Nez, kindly take this fur- 

 covered sachet away ; the bo3^s will not forget how he 

 looks, I'm sure." 



" Skunks are full of play and tricks, if they do smell 

 a bit rank," said Nez, as he returned, followed by Mr. 

 Blake. " I've kept 3^oung uns round camps where I've 

 been, and they're good eatin', too, if they are killed out- 

 right and skinned, — no, you needn't whistle, ]Mr. Blake, 

 I've often broiled 'em like tender spring chickens. They 

 are stupid, too, and if you put a trap in the runway 

 from their holes to the water, they'll be sure to get into 

 it, and seein' one caught doesn't prevent his neighbor 

 from walkin' straight over him inU) another trap." 



''Do they stay out all winter like the Otters?" asked 

 Nat. 



'' That dej^ends on the place and the weather. About 

 here tliey keep lively right along, but further north 

 they may den up for a bit the coldest part of the sea- 

 son. But take these other two, the Weasel and Mink, 

 they are lively most of the time." 



" What an ugl3-looking little beast a Weasel is," 

 said Nat, taking the slender animal, which was about a 

 foot long, in his hand. ''Rod caught ever so many 

 around the chicken house last summer, but they were 

 brown and not a sort of dirty white like this one, and 

 it has a black tip to its tail. Do they moult out in 

 autumn, Nez ? " 



