68 THE TRAPPER'S ART. 



to tlie weasel. Its head is small, with a projecting, naked 

 nose, small, piercing eyes, and short, romided ears. The 

 body is about eighteen inches long ; the tail twelve or four- 

 teen inches, and bushy. The feet are short, and well adapted 

 to digging, having naked soles and closely united toes with 

 claws. The prevailing color is white and black, some varie- 

 ties being mostly white and others mostly black. The fur of 

 the latter is the most valuable. The Skunk walks witli its 

 back much curved, and its tail erect, as though proud of its 

 beauty. It is nocturnal in its habits, and during the summer 

 months searches the fields in the vicinity of its havints every 

 night, feeding principally on worms, bugs, and grasshoppers, 

 but sometimes devouring frogs, mice, young birds, green corn, 

 &c., and occasionally making fi'ee with poultry and eggs. Its 

 services in clearing the farmer's fields and gardens of bugs 

 and worms more than pay for its depredations, and it ought to 

 be regarded as a useful animal. Its breedino- season is in 

 April or May. From six to nine young are brought forth at 

 a litter, and are reared in holes or among rocks, till they are 

 large enough to shift for themselves. 



These animals are taken in traps set at the mouths of their 

 holes or in the fields where they search for food. The trap 

 should be covered with loose earth or soft vegetable substances, 

 and should be baited with small pieces of meat scattered 

 around it. They are not cunning, and require no great skill 

 in taking them. The great difficulty in trapping for them or 

 meddling with them in any way is in the liability of catching 

 a charge of their perfumery, which is very disagreeable, and 

 ruins all clothing that is once impregnated with it. This 

 offensive essence is ejected from two glands near the anus by 

 the contraction of the muscular coverings, and the only way 

 that I know to prevent the discharge is to approach the animal 

 in the trap stealthily, and give it a smart blow with a club 

 across the back near the tail, which will paralyze the ejecting 

 muscles. But this expedient is not always available, as the 

 animal sometimes takes tiie trap for a living enemy and dis- 

 charges when first taken. One thing, however, is in its favor, 

 namely, it is very neat in its personal habits, rarely allowing 



