42 The Skunk 
numerous holes about the hills. These indicate 
the industry of the nocturnal visitor. 
Young skunks are very interesting, and those I 
have seen had the habit of stamping the fore feet 
either while playing among themselves or when ex- 
cited by a person, continually threatening to spray 
the subject of their irritation. By a simple surgical 
operation the muscles which control the scent-bags 
may be cut, thus removing all danger, although the 
animal will assume the threatening attitude as 
before. 
If the young are captured while small and con- 
stantly handled and petted, they. will show a con- 
siderable degree of affection and at times are very 
playful. Dr. C. Hart Merriam tells the following 
story about one of his pet skunks, “Meph”: “His 
nest was in a box at the foot of the stairs, and before 
he grew strong enough to climb out by himself, he 
would, whenever he heard me coming, stand on his 
hind legs with his paws resting on the edge of the 
box and beg to be carried up-stairs. If I passed 
by without appearing to notice him, he invariably 
became much enraged and chippered away at a 
great rate, stamping meanwhile most vigorously. 
During the evening he occasionally assumed a cun- 
ning mood, and would steal softly up to my chair, 
