THE POLECAT 



85 



habits from contact with it. Some came of 

 themselves and took up their abode in the barn 

 or other outbuildings, some were caught, un- 

 injured, in traps and released after a short con- 

 finement. From that day to this there has 

 probably not been a time without from one to 

 a dozen polecats about the place, some of 

 which lived within a few feet of the little hen- 

 houses. 



The vile odor, the best-known character- 

 istic of the animal, is only used as a means of 

 defense, and months sometimes passed without 

 the slightest evidence of it about the build- 

 ings where the animals lived. The little crea- 

 tures find it a safe dependence, usually, and are 

 not as timid as 

 most wild an- 

 imals. The Nat- 

 uralist could ap- 

 proach near to 

 them without 

 offense, and 

 sometimes played 

 with them in the 

 moonlight. If he 

 approached too 

 near, one would 



Mother Skunk would peek out cautiously to see if the coast 

 was clear. 



