36 The Skunk 
smelling about on the ground, occasionally pawing 
among the dried leaves. He gradually ascended the 
hill, but remained under cover of the bushes. When 
the skunk was about fifteen feet from his burrow I 
rattled a dry bush, but otherwise remained quiet and 
motionless, whereupon he turned and stamped the 
ground with his fore feet. In a moment he con- 
tinued on his way, and again I moved the bush and 
stepped forward a pace. The skunk turned and 
came directly toward me, and I thought he was going 
to enter the burrow, but as he did not, I immediately 
sought the meadow beyond. He followed me into the 
clearing, twice uttering a little grunt, and as many 
times threatening to spray me with his essence. He 
soon gave up the chase, however, returning to the 
bushes, where he was gradually lost to sight in the 
coming darkness. 
The den of the skunk is usually a deserted wood- 
chuck burrow, but occasionally in the summer-time 
he uses a hollow log or crevice in the rock. It is not to 
be inferred, however, that he is lacking in ability to 
dig a burrow; quite the reverse. He can dig rapidly 
in the solid soil, and in newly ploughed fields will 
worm himself through the loose earth like a mole. 
At times the rapidity with which he conceals himself 
in this way is most surprising, and probably by this 
