292 Plea for the Skunk [SECOND WEEK 



skunk the great development of these glands has caused 

 a radical change in its habits of life and even in its phy- 

 sical make-up. 



Watch a mink creeping on its sinuous way, every 

 action and glance full of fierce wildness, each step telling 

 of insatiable seeking after living, active prey. The boldest 

 rat flees in frantic terror at the hint of this animal's pres- 

 ence; but let man show himself, and with a demoniacal 

 grin of hatred the mink slinks into covert. 



Now follow a skunk in its wanderings as it comes out 

 of its hole in early evening, slowly stretches and yawns, 

 and with hesitating, rolling gait ambles along, now and 

 then sniffing in the grass and seizing some sluggish grass- 

 hopper or cricket. Fearlessness and confidence are what 

 its gait and manner spell. The world is its debtor, and all 

 creatures in its path are left unmolested, only on evidence 

 of good behaviour. Far from need of concealment, its 

 furry coat is striped with a broad band of white, signalling 

 in the dusk or the moonlight, "Give me room to pass and 

 go in peace! Trouble me and beware!" 



Degenerate in muscles and vitality, the skunk must 

 forego all strenuous hunts and trust to craft and sudden 

 springs, or else content himself with the humble fare of 

 insects, helpless young birds, and poor, easily confused 

 mice. The flesh of the skunk is said to be sweet and 

 toothsome, but few creatures there are who dare attempt 

 to add it to their bill of fare! A great horned owl or a 

 puma in the extremity of starvation, or a vulture in dire 

 stress of hunger, probably no others. 



Far from wilfully provoking an attack, the skunk is 



