582 



THE NATIONAI^ GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



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A FULL SIZE RENDERING OF A FOX SQUIRREL TRACK 



Illustrations of the arrangement of this track when the animal is foraging and traveling 



shown on page 581 



rear view is promptly presented and a dis- 

 charge made that puts most enemies to flight. 

 Some have thought that the odorous liquid is 

 scattered by the long hairs of the tail, but in 

 fact it is ejected in fine jets from two little 

 tubes connected with the scent sacs on each 

 side of the vent. 



When mildly annoyed the big skunks stamp 

 their front feet on the ground and utter little 

 growls of displeasure. By some effort they can 

 be urged into a retreat which may take the 

 form of a clumsy gallop. They are known oc- 

 casionally to swim streams voluntarily, and even 

 to cross rivers, probably urged by the instinct 

 that so often forces animals of all kinds to 

 move to new feeding grounds. 



Although usually safe from annoyance 

 through the protective armament, many skunks, 

 especially the young, each year fall victim to 

 natural enemies, including wolves, coyotes, 

 foxes, badgers, and great horned owls. 



The flesh of the skunk is a favorite food 

 among certain tribes of Canadian Indians, and 

 many white men have pronounced it exceed- 

 ingly palatable, even claiming its superiority 

 over the flesh of domestic fowls. In the narra- 

 tive of his expedition through the Canadian 

 wilderness many years ago, the naturalist 

 Drummond recorded that when the party was 

 about a day's journey from Carlcton House it 

 had the good fortune to kill a skunk, "which 

 afforded us a comfortable meal." In the Valley 

 of Mexico I found the natives prize the flesh 

 of these animals as a cure for a certain loath- 

 some disease. 



It is well known that large skunks are often 

 extremely fat. The oil produced from them is 

 clear and is said to have unusually penetrating 

 qualities. For many years there was a demand 

 for this oil for various medicinal purposes. 



During recent years the fur of skunks has 

 come into great demand, and good prices are 

 paid for prime skins. The animals are so 

 numerous and the catch is so large that they 

 now rank among the most valuable of our fur- 

 bearers. They are gentle animals which readily 

 become domesticated and breed freely in con- 

 finement, and many efforts are being made to 

 establish skunk farms. Success in such farm- 

 ing depends wholly on the outlay for upkeep. 

 Skunk farming will probably pay better as a 

 side line, like chickens on the ordinary farm, 

 than to establish regular fur farms. The scent 

 sac may be removed by a slight surgical opera- 

 tion, so there need be no trouble from that 

 source. Common skunks when taken young 

 make affectionate and entertaining pets. They 

 l^ecome as tame and playful as kittens, and are 

 vastly more intelligent and interesting. 



THE HOG-NOSED SKUNK (Conepatus 

 mesoleucus and its relatives) 



(For ilhistration, see page 359) 



The third and last group of skvmks contains 

 a number of species showing well-marked dif- 

 ferences from the two groups already described. 

 The species vary in size, but among them is 

 included the largest of all skunks. All are 

 characterized by comparatively short hair, es- 



