40 The Skunk 
visits until the whole family is devoured. Other do- 
mestic fowls suffer in much the same way from such 
depredations. The ground-nesting birds also pay a 
heavy tribute, both in eggs and in young, to this 
robber of the poultry yard. 
It would appear at first that the skunk has no 
redeeming qualities, so far as his bill of fare is con- 
cerned, but this is not true. In the destruction of 
field mice, grasshoppers, and various forms of vermin 
he is a very valuable animal and one to be protected 
by the farmer. The favorite food of the skunk, 
whether wild or in captivity, seems to be the varieties 
of harmless snakes. A pet skunk, belonging to one 
of my neighbors, preferred snakes to every other 
kind of food. When a snake was given him he would 
rear on his hind legs and dance about, much like an 
awkward monkey, attempting constantly to grasp the 
snake by the tail, and when successful he would 
shake it to death, and then make off with it to his 
hollow log, there to enjoy his feast undisturbed. 
Dr. Charles C. Abbott cites the following story: 
“In June, 1863, I witnessed a terrific combat 
between a large skunk and a black snake, which, I 
judged, measured fully five feet in length. The 
prowling skunk had evidently seized the snake by 
the tail and endeavored to give it a violent shake, 
