Skunk 
Whenever the frost has left the soil sufficiently, they dig out 
narrow pits as deep as they are able to reach with their fore- 
paws, the long claws of which enable them to rake out the 
soil with great rapidity. These little excavations, each with its 
accompanying pile of dirt, are to be seen anywhere during the 
warm months in regions where skunks abound. 
They are undoubtedly made in search of insects, but just 
what particular kind are oftenest obtained in this way I have 
never been able to discover. 
With the increasing warmth of the season, bugs of all kinds 
begin to crawl out of their hiding places on all sides to breed 
and multiply, and these, with mice and reptiles, serve to keep the 
skunks in food until the nesting season of birds comes on. But 
it is probably short rations at best, and with characteristic bold- 
ness and indifference they visit barns and farm buildings, where 
they generally do more good than harm, living largely on mice 
and rats and whatever meat is to be picked up about the 
ground. Still, when temptation offers in the shape of fowls 
roosting within reach, the old weasel instinct is likely to be 
aroused, and the skunk proves his ability as a hunter of big 
game. 
In May food begins to be fairly abundant and easily pro- 
cured, such as birds’ nests and new families of mice, and the 
steadily increasing supply of bugs and reptiles. 
It is at this time that the little skunks are led forth by their 
parent to receive instructions in the necessary art of getting a 
living. They present a most attractive and not by any means 
uncommon spectacle on warm, still evenings in early summer ; 
the old one moving leisurely along, with half a dozen youngsters 
in her train like Indians on the war-path. 
The black and white of the young ones is even more 
sharply contrasted than that of their parents, as if mew and un- 
worn by use, the short fur lying smooth and even without 
mixing where the opposing colours come together. 
With each recurring evening the devoted little band starts 
out on its nightly hunt, chasing dor-bugs and other night fly- 
ing beetles, blundering along in the darkness. In the utter black- 
ness which exists beneath the undergrowth in the forest they go 
searching for the nests of thrushes and ground-building warblers 
and _ partridges. 



