326 THE SKUNK. 



reaches for half a mile round, and more near at hand is 

 almost stifling. If the dogs continue to pursue, it does all 

 in its power to escape, by getting up a tree, or by some 

 such means ; but if driven to an extremity, it then lets fly 

 upon the hunters ; and if it should happen that a drop of 

 this foetid discharge falls in the eye, the person runs the 

 risk of being blinded for ever. 



The dogs themselves instantly abate of their ardor 

 when they find this extraordinary battery played off 

 against them ; they instantly turn tail, and leave the ani- 

 mal undisputed master of the field ; and no exhortations 

 can ever bring them to rally. " 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, 

 until it discharged against them. .Although I was in my 

 bed a good way off, I thought I should have been suffo- 

 cated; and the cows and oxen, by their lowings, showed 

 how much they were affected by the stench. About the 

 end of the same year, another of these animals 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 degree, that the 

 woman kept her bed for several days after ; and all the 

 bread, meat, and other provisions, that were kept there, 

 were so infected, that they were obliged to be thrown out 

 of doors." Nevertheless, many of the planters and native 

 Americans keep this animal tarne about their houses : and 

 seldom perceive any disagreeable scents, except it is in- 

 jured or frighted. They are also known to eat its flesh, 

 which some assert to be tolerable food; however, they 

 take care to deprive it of those glands which are so hor- 

 ridly offensive. 



