THE SKUNK. 45 



and proved to be dying, though, not dead. Soon after, 

 I examined the animal carefully, and found that it had 

 been strangled, or nearly so. 



During this combat there was no discharge of the de- 

 fensive glands of the skunk. Whether these were in- 

 active at the time, or whether they were disabled by the 

 snake's attack, can not, of course, be determined. 



