52 SQUIRRELS AND OTHER FUR-BEARERS 



escape ; but he declared that afterwards his eyes 

 felt as if purged by fire, and his sight was much 

 clearer. 



The skunk has perfect confidence in the effi- 

 cacy of his weapon. Late one March afternoon 

 in my walk, I saw one coming down through a 

 field toward the highway. I thought I would 

 intercept him and turn him back. I advanced to 

 within fifteen or twenty yards of him, and, as he 

 did not check his course, judged it prudent to 

 check mine. On he came toward me, with the 

 most jaunty and frolicsome air, waving his tail 

 high above his head and challenging me to the 

 combat. I retreated and he pursued, till I finally 

 left him master of the field. 



