40 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



skunk can dig with marvelous case, and in an incredibly 

 short time it can bury itself deeply in the ground. Late 

 in the autumn of last year (1881) I chanced to overtake 

 one of these creatures in an open meadow. On discover- 

 ing my approach, the animal started off on a brisk trot, 

 heading for the nearest trees. I made no effort to over- 

 take it, for obvious reasons, but kept the animal in sight. 

 When it reached the edge of the meadow, where stood a 

 clump of large trees, it immediately commenced digging 

 with great rapidity, and in certainly less than one minute 

 it had tunneled so far beneath the roots of one of the 

 trees that I could not see it, although, of course, I was 

 more cautious in my explorations than would be neces- 

 sary with any other mammal. 



This ability to tunnel in loose earth stands them well 

 in need when they frequent thickly-settled neighborhoods, 

 as they often make deep, temporary burrows in plowed 

 fields, and find there a safe retreat during the day. As 

 they can dig for themselves such an underground shelter 

 as they need in a few moments, of course it is occupied but 

 for a few hours. At night they are abroad in search of 

 food, and, let them be where they may at daybreak, they 

 can conceal themselves in a few moments so effectually 

 that their whereabouts is not suspected. This, I believe, 

 is the secret of their survival in the immediate vicinity of 

 our towns. Had they only elaborate burrows to which, 

 week after week, they resorted, then, doubtless, they 

 would soon be discovered and driven off or destroyed. 

 When the ground is loose or newly plowed, the skunk 

 also resorts to digging to escape pursuit. I have knowl- 

 edge of one instance in which the animal buried itself 

 so quickly as to escape, although hard pressed. Then it 

 did not throw out the dirt behind it as it progressed, but 

 wormed itself through the loose earth much as a mole 



