Has 



deavui', in luv ieeblc way, to piutect these beautiful 

 creatures wliieli a tlioughlful Maker placed oii earth 

 to assist mankind. I certainly would liave a much 

 higher regard for Skunks if they evinced less industry 

 in seeking the eggs and young of ground-nesting feath- 

 ered tenants of the fields, clearings and forests, when 

 they go in search of May beetles, larvae. Mice and 

 other enemies of agriculture. However, I am inclined 

 to the opinion that Skunks are often blamed for rob- 

 bingneststhat have been visited by other pilfering ani- 

 mals. 



The common house cat — concerning which Dr. A. K. 

 Fisiher truly says: 



"That gigantic * * * fraud, is petted and fed and given 

 a secure shelter from which it may emerge in the evening to 

 spread destruction among the feathered tribe" — 



does a great deal of mischief in the poultry yard and 

 devours all the wild birds, both old and young, it can 

 catcli. It 'ih a sly robber and frequently its depreda- 

 tions are charged to other animals. 



Rats, likewise, are cunning and vexatious pests, and 

 their deeds of rapine are often unjustly placed to the 

 discredit of Skunks, Hawks, Owls, AYeasels, etc. 



THEY CATCH BENEFICIAL INSECTS. 



It is unquestionably '.rue, as intimated by my friend 

 Dr. Thornton (see page 359), that Skunks consume bene- 

 ficial insects, particularly predaceous ground beetles 

 which, with their larvae, catch Army Wonns, Cut- 

 Worms, etc., yet the painstaking investigations of 

 economic entomologists and mammalogists, prove be- 

 yond all doubt that the noxious forms of insect pests 

 which they feed upon are the ones which in the great 



