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MEPHITIS MEPHITICA, (Baihd). 



THE SKUNK. 



Specific Character. — Soles naked, except on the posterior third. Tail ver- 

 tebrae half the length of head and body, with hairs considerably less. Colour 

 black ; a narrow frontal line ; a broad triangular nuchal patch, continuous, with 

 a narrow line on either side of the back, nearly to the tail, and a tuft on the end 

 of the tail, white. The dorsal stripes sometimes broader ; sometimes wanting as 

 also the nuchal patch. 



Habitat. — Hudson's Bay to Guatemala, very common in Ontario. 



Average Size. — Equal to that of a large cat. 



4-verage Weight. — 8 pounds. 



Average Height. — 7 inches. 



Average Length. — 2 feet; nose to tail 15 inches; tail 9 inches. 



Value of Fur. — Per skin, average 2oc. to $1.50. 



This beautiful but malodorous animal is about the size of a large cat, bulkier 

 in body but not so long. The general colour is brownish black, with white 

 longitudinal stripes on each side of the back as well as on the head. Some speci- 

 mens are without the white stripes and have only a nuchal patch of white. 



The tail is long and bushy, white on the under at the root of the hairs, and 

 black on the upper surface. 



The feet have five toes, those on the fore feet being armed with strong 

 curved claws which are used with great effect in burrowing. 



The skunk is a slow moving animal, and unless when suddenly disturbed, 

 never attempts to hurry itself. 



In its anal glands is secreted a yellowish, transparent fluid, which in odour 

 is intolerably offensive. When angry, or acting on the defensive, the skunk 

 ejects this fluid to a distance of two or three yards in the form of a spray, and 

 so penetrating is this horrid fluid, that a brisk wind will carry it a hundred yards 

 away, to scatter consternation amongst men and beasts. None but those who 

 have smelled the discharge at close quarters can form any idea of its awful 

 strength and sickening odour. 



The skunk is cleanly in habit and a distinctly nocturnal animal. It is car- 

 nivorously inclined and never loses an opportunity of burglarizing the poultry 

 yard if one is near at hand, 



Being gregarious, numbers of these animals are to be found together in their 

 dens, where, during the winter, they hibernate. 



The bite of the skunk is said to produce hydrophobia in a form absolutely in- 

 distinguishable from that produced by the bite of a mad dog. 



Its fur is valuable and much in demand, being used principallj^ for trimmings. 



The young are born in June or July and from four to ten are produced at a 

 time. 



