32 The Skunk 
city belle come from the little bicolored animals 
called ‘“‘wood-pussies” by the country folk. 
Whether one comes upon the skunk by day or by 
night he seems never to be in any haste to conceal 
himself. Such implicit confidence has he in his 
ability to defend himself that he treads the forest 
THE SKUNK 
as boldly as though he were lord of all he surveys, 
showing a lofty indifference to the presence of man 
and beast. He protects himself by spraying the 
enemy with a musky secretion having a most powerful 
