A.NiJIALS. 



281 



does all in its power to escape, by getting up a tree, or by some 

 such means ; but if dris'en to an extremity, it then lets fly upon 

 the hunters, and if it should happen that a drop of this foetid 

 discharge falls in the eye, the person runs the risk of being 

 blinded for ever. 



The dogs themselves instantly abate of their ardour when 

 they find this extraordinary battery played off against them ; 

 they instantly turn tail, and leave the animal undisputed mas- 

 ter of the field ; and no exhortations can ever bring them to rally. 

 " In the year 1749," says Kalm, " one of these animals came near 

 the farm where I lived. It was in winter time, during the night ; 

 and the dogs that were upon the watch pursued it for some 

 time, until it discharged against them.' Although, I was in my 

 bed a good way off", I thought I should have been suffocated ; 

 and the cows and oxen, by their lowings, showed how much 

 they were affected by the stench. About the end of the same 

 year, another of these animals crept into our cellar, but did not 

 exhale the smallest scent because it was not disturbed. A fool- 

 ish woman, however, who perceived it at night, by the shining 

 of its eyes, killed it, and at that moment its stench began to 

 spread. The whole cellar was filled with it to such a degree, 

 that the woman kept her bed for several days after, and all the 

 bread, meat, and other provisions that were kept there, were so 

 infected, that they were obliged to be thrown out of doors." 

 Nevertheless, many of the planters and native Americans keep 

 this animal tame about their houses ; and seldom perceive any 

 disagreeable scents, except it is injured or frighted. They are 

 also known to eat its flesh, which some assert to be tolerable 

 food ; however, they take care to deprive it of those glands 

 which arc so horribly offensive. 



THE GENET. 



From the squash, which is the most offensive animal in nature, 

 we come to the genet, which is one of the most beautiful and 

 pleasing. Instead of the horrid stench, with which the former 

 affects us, this has a most grateful odour : more faint than civet, 

 but to some for that reason more agreeable. This animal is ra- 

 ther less than the martin ; though there are genets of different 

 i Voyage do Kiilm. :i3 quoted l>y Butfou, vol. xxvii. d. 01. 

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