40 The Skunk 



visits until the whole family is devoured. Other do- 

 mestic fowls suffer in much the same way from such 

 depredations. The ground-nesting birds also pay a 

 heavy tribute, both in eggs and in young, to this 

 robber of the poultry yard. 



It would appear at first that the skunk has no 

 redeeming qualities, so far as his bill of fare is con- 

 cerned, but this is not true. In the destruction of 

 field mice, grasshoppers, and various forms of vermin 

 he is a very valuable animal and one to be protected 

 by the farmer. The favorite food of the skunk, 

 whether wild or in captivity, seems to be the varieties 

 of harmless snakes. A pet skunk, belonging to one 

 of my neighbors, preferred snakes to every other 

 kind of food. When a snake was given him he would 

 rear on his hind legs and dance about, much like an 

 awkward monkey, attempting constantly to grasp the 

 snake by the tail, and when successful he would 

 shake it to death, and then make off with it to his 

 hollow log, there to enjoy his feast undisturbed. 

 Dr. Charles C. Abbott cites the following story: 

 "In June, 1863, I witnessed a terrific combat 

 between a large skunk and a black snake, which, I 

 judged, measured fully five feet in length. The 

 prowling skunk had evidently seized the snake by 

 the tail and endeavored to give it a violent shake, 



