HOW SKUNKS DEFEND THEMSELVES 



27 



SKULL OF A SEA OTTER 



This is the front view of a sea otter skull, a rare animal now, and 

 almost extinct. 



what we find in the Skunk. The animal has the power of 

 throwing it only a very limited distance, and often it 

 merely exudes upon the neighboring parts. In fact, it 



would seem that it is by no means employed as a fluid 

 of defense, and it is, in some instances, by no means disa- 

 greeable and rarely highly offensive. Dogs and other 

 animals do not especially shun the Marten. 



In the American sable or pine marten, the gland is not 

 nearly as highly developed as in other mustelines in ' 



SKULL OF A FISHER 



This is a fine specimen of the skull of an adult male fisher. Both 

 of these fine skull specimens are in the collection of the National 

 Museum, at Washington, and are published through the courtesy 

 of the Division of Mammals of that institution. (Photographed 

 by the Author). 



the mink, for example ; hence the characteristic odor is 

 far less noticeable. In fact, captive martens become quite 

 tame, and the odor given oiT by them is very mild. It is 

 reduced to a mere musky taint, not altogether unpleas- 

 ing to man certainly it offers no protection for them 



THIS FISHER HAS STALKED A RABBIT 



There is a certain character about tne drawing of mammals by Mr. Leon L. Pray which is unusual as well as attractive. This 

 one of the Fisher is from a photograph by the writer of a plate in the work of C. B. Cory on The Mammals of Illinois and Wis- 

 consin." In some parts nf the country Fishers are now entirely exterminated. 



