406 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



Towards evening all was in readiness tents, beds, mattresses, 

 a good dinner, and as pretty a table as could be found in an 

 English dining-room. The guests arrived in separate detachments ; 

 probably from an excess of modesty, which would have felt the 

 strain of a sudden and unexpected influx of nine visitors, some of 

 whom were perfect strangers. 



I do not think any person who was present will forget the kind 

 hospitality of that evening, and the clever manner in which such 

 an impromptu entertainment had been provided. The sleeping 

 accommodation, although rough, was clean and comfortable ; but, 

 just as we were about to retire for the night, a most insufferable 

 and overpowering odour pervaded every corner ; it could not be 

 called a bad smell, it was an awful stench. " Skunk," two or 

 three experienced voices at once explained. It was indeed one of 

 these disgusting animals which had entered beneath the floor. 

 Windows and doors were at once thrown open, the floor was beaten 

 with sticks, and as much noise made as possible to drive the 

 intruder out. This had the desired effect, as after a time the 

 smell subsided, and by burning pieces of pine wood the atmosphere 

 regained its sweetness. 



The skunk (Mephitis, Cuv.) is an extraordinary creature, some- 

 what resembling the badger, and I cannot understand why nature 

 has arranged that an animal so lovely should be so repulsive 

 in its odour. The size is that of a small cat. The skin is a 

 jet black of beautiful texture, long, furry, with white longi- 

 tudinal stripes, one upon either side. The tail is of sufficient 

 width and length of hair to completely conceal the animal when 

 upraised. 



The trappers declare that if a skunk bites a dog it will die of 

 hydrophobia ; this I do not believe, but if a dog were to bite a 

 skunk, it might possibly die of sheer disgust, as it would never 

 get rid of the horrible effluvium. It is an animal that feeds, like 

 the Herpestes, upon almost anything it can obtain in the shape of 

 insects, eggs, flesh, or animal matter generally. It has the power 

 of emitting, when excited, a peculiar secretion which causes the 

 well-known stench. I have shot several, but no person could be 

 prevailed to skin them. On one occasion I was obliged to light a 

 fire above the body to cremate it, as the camp was down wind 

 some GO yards below, and it was impossible to endure the smell 

 even at that distance. 



Along the banks of the Powder river the white-tail deer are 

 still common (C. Virginianus), although much reduced in number 

 since the establishment of cattle ranches. They are rather smaller 



