lucky enough to secure. On the open plains where there is not a 

 wide choice of shelter he may conclude that it is worth his while to 

 excavate a hole for himself beneath a concealing cactus or some 

 other of the few large plants. Once in the wooded country, however, 

 he takes no such pains, since hollow stumps and logs are always to 

 be had for the mere finding, and these when comfortably lined with 

 dry leaves, make the coziest beds. But most of all do the spotted 

 skunks abound where there are plenty of rocky hiding places, and 

 best of all do they like to make their dens down among the crevices 

 where they scramble in and out with an ease and freedom of motion 

 that would much surprise those whose acquaintance with their fam- 

 ily is limited to their more bulky and clumsy cousins. 



213 



