CiiAP. 2. 



QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT. 



33 



I'HE SKUNK. 



THE AMERICAN OTTEK. 



grown martin weighs about four pounds. 

 The price of prime skins is from $1, to 

 $1.2.5. 



Ge:«us Mei'iiitis. — Cuvier. 

 Generic Characters. — Teeth 34 — incis- 

 ors, li canine X.l irrinders l.l • canines 

 strong und conical ; superior tuberculous tenlh ve- 

 ry large and as broad as they are long ; the inferi- 

 or grinders with two tubercles on the inside. 

 Head short ; nose projecting ; feet five toed, 

 hairs on the bottom, and furnished with nails 

 suitable for digging : trunk of the tail of moderate 

 length, or very short ; hair of the body long, that 

 of the tail very long ; and glands, which secrete 

 an excessively fetid liquor. 





THE SKUiNK. 

 Mephitis amcricana. — Desm. 

 Description. — General color black, 

 with a white spot between the ears, which 

 often extends along tlie sides towards the 

 hips in the form of the letter V, and a nar- 

 row strip of white in the face ; tail bushy, 

 tipped with white; nails of the fore feet 

 strong and about the length of tiie palm ; 

 hair on the head short, longer on the body 

 and very long on the tail. Lengtli from 

 the nose to the insertion of the tail 16 inch- 

 es, head 4.^ inches, body 11^ inches, tail 

 (trunk 10,''tuft 4) 14 inches. 



History. — The skunk is a very com- 

 mon animal in Vermont. It is not con- 

 fined to the forests, nor to the thinly set- 

 tled parts of the country, but frequently 

 makes its residence in the midst of our 

 villages. During the day he shelters him- 

 self ill stone walls, or beneath barns, or 

 out buildings, and prowls for hisjfood du- 

 ring the night. This consists of eggs, 

 young birds, mice and other small quad- 

 rupeds and reptiles. He frequently does 

 considerable mischief in our poultry yards, 

 by the destruction of eggs and fowls. 

 What renders this animal most remarka- 

 ble is its peculiar weapon of defence. 

 W^hen pursued, or attacked, it has the 

 power of ejecting in the face of its enemy 

 a fluid of the most nauseatinglTnd stifling 

 scent, which exists in nature. This fluid 

 is secreted by glands situated near the 

 root of the tail, and seems to be desioned 

 V;?liolly as a means of defence, beino- total- 

 ly independent of the ordinary evacua- 

 tions. When undisturbed the skunk hits 

 Ft. i. 5 



no disagreeable odor, and whole nests of 

 them may lie under a barn floor for 

 months, without betraying their presence 

 by their scent. The flesh of the skunk 

 when the odorous parts have been removed 

 is well flavored and wholesome food. 



Genus Lutra. — Briss. 

 Generic Characters. — Teeth 3G — Incis- 

 ors, |.^ canines ' .1^ grinders ^.-A • canines of 

 moderate length and hooked; the first superior 

 grinder small and Idunt, the second and third cut- 

 ting, the fourth with a strong spur on the inner 

 side, the fifih with three external points and a 

 broad internal spur ; the inferior vary from five to 

 si\ but resemble the superior. Head large and 

 flattened; ears short and round ;"body very lontr, 

 and \nw upon the legs ; tail long, flattened hori- 

 zontally and tapering ; feet webbed ; nails crooked 

 and sharp ; body covered with a fine fur mixed 

 with long brislly hairs; two small oval glands se- 

 creling a fetid liipjor. 



THE AMEHICAN OTTER. 

 Lutra hrasilicnsis. — Desm. 



Description. — Color dark reddish glos- 

 sy brown ; pale or wliitisii about the throat 

 and face ; head globular ; neck long ; body 

 long and cylindrical; tail depressed at 

 the base ; feet webbed, short and strong ; 

 5 toes on the anterior feet, and 4 with the 

 rudiment of a 5th on the posterior. To- 

 tal length of one of the largest size, 4 

 feet; length of the head 4.^ inches, tail 

 17 inche.s, height 10 inches, circumfer- 

 ence at the middle of the back 19 inches. 



HiSTORV.— The Otter lives in holes in 

 the banks of creeks and rivers, and feeds 

 principally upon fish, frogs and other 

 small animals. They were formerly very 

 common in this state, particularly along 

 the streams which fall into lake Cham- 

 plain and lake Memphremagog. Otter 

 Creek derives its name from the great 

 abundance of otter, which formerly in- 

 habited its banks. They are now become 

 scarce, but are occasionally taken at sev- 

 eral places within the state. 



The Otter is an active, strong and vora- 

 cious animal. When attacked and una- 

 ble to escape they fight with great fierce- 

 ness, and when fully grown are more 

 than a match for a common-sized doo-. 

 The teeth of the Otter are sharp and stronc- 



