Sko. 13.] -VriLD AND TAME ANIMALS OF THE FARM. 263 



Toluiiic, if they learn no other, that the striped gopher is wortli its weigiit 

 in gold Tipon any farm where field-mice arc so abundant that they destroy 

 fruit-trees. 



293. SkliUks. — "We don't kiidw that wc can afford to stem the current of 

 popular o])inion so far as to recommend the protection instead of destruction 

 of skunks {JLjj/iiiis Aniericana). We are aware that these animals are 

 troublesome visitors to the poultry-yard, and on that account they are hunted 

 and killed without mercy, and without a tiiought about wliat they live upon 

 all the time that they do not eat chickens. As they are tlesh-eaters, they must 

 find something of the flesh kind to eat, and that something is the very thinf 

 that tlie iarmer is most anxious to get rid of — it is mice, and worms, and 

 bugs. The quantity of these pests destroyed by a single skunk is enormous. 

 It is very rare that they come about a house, tiiough we have known them 

 to live for weeks in cellars, or store-rooms, or under a crib, without producin" 

 any nuisance. They never emit their fetid odor unless attacked by man or 

 dog; and it has been contended that it was practicable to domesticate a 

 skunk so that he would be quite a harmless pet. ,AVe can not recommend 

 making i)ets of these animals, but we do recommend farmers to learn the 

 important fact, that if they do him a little damage occasionally, they also do 

 him an incahnilable amount of good. Generally speaking, there is not a 

 farmer in all liie region iiiJiabited by i\\c Mephitis who could nbt well afloid 

 to exchange dogs for skunks, and pay ten dollars each for the bargain. 

 Tliere is one otlier thing that skunks are good for. As an article of food wo 

 don't think there is any wild animal that makes a more dainty dish, and we 

 hold that we arc tolerably well qualified to judge. A fat skunk, nicely 

 dressed and roasted, hung by a string before an old-fashioned wood tire 

 till beautifully browned, and then served njjon a platter fianked witii boiled 

 mealy jiotatoes, covered with the brown gravy made of the fat di-iji, is 

 beyond dispute " a dish fit to set before the king." 



2D4. Toads. — Although not among tlie quadrupeds, of which this chapter 

 treats, toads are among the friends of the farmer, and as such should iiave a 

 j)lace in tliis connection. Every man who owns or cultivates a garden or 

 field, wlio knows anything about the natural history of the toad, will never 

 allow one to be destroyed. There is no animal more harmless, and few tiiat 

 do the fanner more good than toads. Their whole food is of insects injuri- 

 ous to the farmer. The prejudice against "the ugly things" is a foolish one, 

 and should be done away with. We once had a toad in the garden which, 

 by some particular mark, was known to the cliildren, who ealle<l it " fatlier's 

 pet toad," because it really appeared as though it know that wo were its 

 friend and jirotector. Tiiis toad came year after year to lend us its valuable 

 aid in exterminating the insect pests of tlie garden. We had another tlnit 

 made the milk-room its summer home, where it was constantly engaged '\\\ 

 catching flies and bugs. Toads ami bats sliould botli be jirotecteil from harm, 

 and cliildren tauglit to encourage them to come about flie house. I'ats arc 

 great insect-eaters, and never visit the house of an evening for any other 



