130 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



Another odious attribute of the beast is its habit of approaching 

 sleeping people and biting them not from spite, apparently, but from 

 a wish to eat them, just as Rats sometimes do; but the Skunk's bite 

 is said to produce hydrophobia, and in any case it is greatly dreaded even 

 by such hardy and courageous men as the Western cowboys. 



Enough has been said to show that the Skunk's ill name has certainly 

 sufficient justification ; but, except for its stench and its bite, it is really 

 an excellent little animal. Although of fair size for a Weasel, being about 

 as big as a small Cat, it is less bloodthirsty than most of its tribe, though 

 occasionally guilty of raids on the hen-roost. Its ordinary prey consists 

 of mice, frogs, insects, and so forth, and it really does a great deal of 

 good in the destruction of vermin. 



It is a ground-animal and a burrower, having large powerful claws on 

 the fore-feet ; in its burrow its young are deposited. They keep with the 

 parent for some time after they can go about, and when quite small will 

 erect their tails, stamp, and make ready for action with as much energy 

 as the old ones. Skunks become very fat in autumn, and hibernate 

 in the northern parts of their range, for the species is a wide-ranging one, 

 being a familiar animal from Canada to Guatemala. It shows, however, 

 much local variation, and several races are distinguished. 



The flesh of the Skunk is quite good to eat, being white and tender, 

 and is appreciated by the Indians, while the fur is well known to ladies. 

 The animal is also devoured by some predatory creatures, in spite of its 

 smell, which, of course, may not necessarily offend the nostrils of all 

 creatures. 



Skunks can be tamed if taken young enough, and make very nice 

 pets ; but I fancy few people would care to keep them unless the scent- 

 glands had been removed, an operation which can be successfully per- 

 formed. Thus the animal has been exhibited at our Zoological Gardens, 

 and a female and her young, which were quite small when the family was 

 imported, are there at present. These animals when annoyed show un- 

 mistakable signs of what they would do if they could, so that a specimen 

 in full possession of its powers would demand more consideration than 

 could be conveniently given in a menagerie or even a private household. 



