THE SKUNK. THE GENET. 311 



Description. 



THE SKUNK. 



THIS animal, which the natives of" Brasil dis* 

 tinguish by the appellation of the chinche, resem- 

 bles a polecat in the size and formation of its 

 body; but particularly differs in the length of its 

 hair and colour. The hair is above three inches 

 long, and that at the end of the tail above four 

 inches. The colour is partly black, and partly 

 white, and disposed in stripes over the body. 

 The nose is long and slender> and extends a con- 

 siderable way beyond the lower jaw; the ears are 

 large, short, and rounded ; and the tail is remark- 

 ably thick and bushy. 



The skunk, like the squash, emits an into- 

 lerable fetid scent, when attacked, pursued, or 

 frightened. It inhabits Peru, Brasil, and other 

 parts of South America; and is also found in 

 North America, as far as Canada. 



THE GENET. 



AS the polecat, the squash, and the skunk> 

 may be justly numbered among the most often* 

 sive animals in nature ; the genet may be pro- 

 nounced one of the most beautiful, and the per- 

 fume which it yields is perfectly grateful. The 

 body of this animal is rather larger than that of 

 the marten ; its head is long and slender, tapering 



voi.. ii. NO. kiv. 2 B. 



