The Skunk 233 
and disagreeable odor. ‘This secretion is stored in 
two glands located under the tail, and may be ejected, 
by muscular contraction, to the distance of about ten 
feet. The contents of the glands are discharged, 
probably one or both at a time, as the occasion de- 
mands, in the form of a very fine spray. In addition 
to its terrible odor, this liquid is so intensely acid 
that it burns the skin like fire. In extreme cases such 
a discharge has been known to produce blindness. 
When the skunk is facing you there is no danger 
that he will discharge his artillery; it is only when he 
turns tail toward the enemy that there need be alarm. 
Many believe that the skunk scatters the essence 
with his tail, but this is entirely incorrect, for the 
skunk is a very cleanly animal, and during the dis- 
charge the tail is arched high above the back to keep 
it undefiled. If he were to wet his tail with the essence 
he would attract many enemies in the vicinity, and 
without doubt it is a matter of both prudence and 
comfort for him to remain free from the stench. 
" The Indians of the upper Columbia Valley have a 
quaint legend concerning the origin of this peculiar 
weapon of the skunk. According to the reports of the 
War Department, in this particular part of the river 
there are many rocks of fantastic forms. On the 
top of one of these the following incident occurred: 
