62 WINTER SUNSHINE 



and which is the chief source of his unpopularity, 

 while it affords good reasons against cultivating him 

 as a pet, and mars his attractiveness as game, is by 

 no means the greatest indignity that can be offered 

 to a nose. It is a rank, living smell, and has none 

 of the sickening qualities of disease or putrefaction. 

 Indeed, I think a good smeller will enjoy its most 

 refined intensity. It approaches the sublime, and 

 makes the nose tingle. It is tonic and bracing, and, 

 I can readily believe, has rare medicinal qualities. 

 I do not recommend its use as eyewater, though an 

 old farmer assures me it has undoubted virtues when 

 thus applied. Hearing, one night, a disturbance 

 among his hens, he rushed suddenly out to catch 

 the thief, when Sir Mephitis, taken by surprise, and 

 no doubt much annoyed at being interrupted, dis 

 charged the vials of his wrath full in the farmer's 

 face, and with such admirable effect that, for a few 

 moments, he was completely blinded, and powerless 

 to revenge himself upon the rogue, who embraced 

 the opportunity to make good his escape; but he 

 declared that afterwards his eyes felt as if purged 

 by fire, and his sight was much clearer. 



In March that brief summary of a bear, the rac 

 coon, comes out of his den in the ledges, and leaves 

 his sharp digitigrade track upon the snow, travel 

 ing not unfrequently in pairs, a lean, hungry 

 couple, bent on pillage and plunder. They have 

 an unenviable time of it, feasting in the summer 

 and fall, hibernating in winter, and starving in 

 spring. In April I have found the young of the 



