42 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



offensive discharges, or is simply a measure of precau- 

 tion, the fact remains that such homes are often in fre- 

 quented spots, and the presence of the animal is not sus- 

 pected. Remaining carefully concealed throughout the 

 day, and using great caution in their wandering at night, 

 they escape notice, and are thus able to rear their young 

 in safety. 



While not exhibiting the aversion to water that char- 

 acterizes our common cats, the skunk does not appear to 

 take to swimming voluntarily, even when closely pursued. 

 Thus, when trying to evade an enemy, if it comes to the 

 bank of a pond or creek, it will usually turn from its 

 course, and seek safety in some other way than by flight. 

 Occasionally, however, in the upper valley of the Dela- 

 ware, where these animals are much more abundant than 

 in the southern or tide-water portion of the State, the 

 heavy freshets of early spring will catch them napping, 

 and then they are forced to seek safety by clinging to 

 floating logs. In this position they take an unwilling 

 ride often of many miles, and if luckily they escape 

 drowning, it is only to find themselves landed in a level, 

 scantily-wooded country, the very opposite in all respects 

 to their original home. 



Here it may not be inopportune to add that when, 

 as has frequently happened, a skunk, an opossum, and 

 several musk-rats seek safety, at the same time, from a 

 sudden flood, and they all take refuge on the same log, 

 there is no visible commotion or disturbance among them, 

 though the wide berth given the skunk warrants the be- 

 lief that all our mammals have a wholesome dread of the 

 possible exercise of his peculiar method of defense. My 

 impression, however, is that, when skunks are fighting 

 among themselves, or contending with minks or opos- 

 sums, as sometimes happens, over some hapless chicken, 



