335 



but a small niimber of our correspondenls appear to 

 know that 111' possesses anv especial inclination to eat 

 insects and destructive larvae. Tlie general impres- 

 sion seems to be that this animal reaches the acme of 

 bliss when he can gain an entrance to a hen coop and 

 devour chickens or suck eggs; and it matters but little 

 liow old the latter mny be. 



SPORTSMEN GENERALLY DESPISR SKTTNKS. 



A number of sportmen who spend considerable time 

 , every year in the woods and fields give the Skunk a 

 record blacker than the pelt of the most marketable 

 Foleciit. 



Witli few exceptions the testimony from sportsmen 

 is that the main thing the Skunk lives for in this region 

 is to devour the eggs of Grouse, Quail and other birds 

 which nest on or close to the ground. Such opinions 

 concerning the Skunk are wrong, yet they are, unfor- 

 tunately, quite generally entertained by a large class 

 of our citizens who become unju.stly prejudiced against 

 this useful mammal and destroy him and his family, 

 when in reality these animals are of great benefit on 

 the farm wlieie detrimental insects and sleek-coated 

 rodents aie almost continually at work preying on the 

 crops. 



DR. MERRTAMS ilBSERVATIONS. 



Conceriiiug the food liabits of the Skunk, Dr. <.\ 

 Hart Merriam, of Washington, D. C. a gentleman who 

 is nnivereally regarded as one of the most eminent and 

 reliable economic zoologists in America, says: 



"He preys upon mice, salamanders, frogs, and the eggs of 

 birds that nest on or within reach from the ground. 



"At times he eats carrion, and if he chances to stumble upon 

 a hen's nest the eggs are liable to suffer; and once in a while 



