AMERICAN POLE-CAT, OR STINKARD. 75 



it is an animal of prey; destroying small quadrupeds and 

 poultry, the nests of birds, and even the birds themselves, 



THE AMERICAN POLE-CAT, OR STINKARD. 



There are several varieties of this creature ; chiefly 

 distinguished by size and colour, but all agreeing in the 

 general characteristics of the kind. The hair is long and 

 beautiful, and five white stripes, on a black ground, run 

 longitudinally from the head to the tail. It is about the 

 size of the European pole-cat, but incomparably more 

 fetid and loathsome. Near the tail are some glands, from 

 which exudes a matter intolerably offensive. 



These animals prey on poultry and other small game. 

 If pursued by dogs or men, they need only to emit their 

 peculiar stench, and the chace must be immediately given 

 up. The dogs instantly run back, and no human being 

 can possibly support the nauseous effluvia. 



" In the year 1749, " says Kalm, " one of these animals 

 came near the farm where I lived ; it was in winter time, 

 during the night ; and the dogs that were upon the watch 

 pursued it for some time, till it discharged against them. 

 Although I was in my bed a good way off, I thought I 

 should have been suffocated ; and the cows and oxen 

 showed by their lowings, how much they were affected by 

 the stench. About the end of the same year, another of 

 them crept into our cellar ; but did not exhale the smallest 

 scent, because it was not disturbed. A foolish woman, 

 however, who perceived it at night by the shining of its 

 eyes, killed it ; and at that moment its stench began to 

 spread. The whole cellar was filled with it to such a de- 

 gree, that the woman kept her bed for several days after ; 

 and all the bread, meat, and other provisions, that were 

 stored there, became so infected, that they were obliged 

 to be thrown out of doors." It appears, however, that this 

 creature is sometimes domesticated : but then it must be 

 deprived of the offensive glands. 



K 2 



