‘SKUNK AND ITS ODOUR. 7 
Intensely offensive though he be, nevertheless 
he is a handsome beast. The predominant 
colour is jet-black. A narrow snow-white line 
marks the centre of the forehead. Just behind 
the ears, from the nape, is a triangular patch of 
white, somewhat tinged with yellow. Confluent 
with this patch; two narrow lines of white run 
parallel to each other, for a few inches; then 
diverge rapidly, and extend along the back to 
near the tail, which is long and bushy, like that 
of the fox; but black, with a white tuft at the ex- 
treme tip. The length of the mature animal, 
from the nose to the root of the tail, is twenty- 
» one inches. . 
The oil-glands are situated at the base of the 
tail. The animal possesses the power of ejecting 
the secretion with great force, and will hit an 
enemy at the distance of ten yards. The Indians 
and Voyageurs, after dissecting out the glands, 
devour the body with great gusto. The dissec- 
tion and skinning are always done under water, 
in a running stream; by adopting this plan, the 
effluvia is washed away. I have tasted roasted 
skunk, but cannot say much in its praise. Its 
flavour is decidedly skunky, although the flesh is 
delicately white and tender. 
The habits of the animal are strictly noc- 
