THE SKUNK. 115 



dismounted, and, with his large cloak floating in the breeze, laid 

 his stick gently across the body of the animal to secure it. The 

 skunk raised its fine bushy tail, and showered such a discharge 

 of its offensive fluid, that my friend, dismayed and infuriated, 

 began to belabour the poor animal. Its swiftness, however, 

 saved its bones ; and at every step as it retreated towards its 

 hole, it continued the ejectment, which fully convinced the 

 foreigner that the pursuit of it was at best an unprofitable 

 employment. This was not all, however. I could not suffer 

 his approach, nor could my horse ; it was with difficulty 

 he mounted his own ; and we were forced to continue our 

 journey far asunder, and he much to leeward. A heavy snow 

 storm having begun, and almost impeded our progress, we made 

 for the first cabin we saw. We entered, and found ourselves 

 amongst a crowd of men and women, who had met for the 

 purpose of corn-shucking. When* we had stood the few stares 

 which strangers must everywhere expect, we approached the 

 fire. What a shock for the whole party ! The scent which had 

 been almost stifled on my companion's vestments by the cold 

 of the evening air, now recovered its primitive strength. The 

 cloak was put out of the house, but its owner could not be well 

 used in the same way. The company, however, took to their 

 heels, and there only remained a single black servant, who 

 waited on us until supper was served. I felt vexed to see the 

 discomfiture of the good traveller, who was not only deficient 

 in zoological knowledge, but, fresh as he was from Europe, felt 

 more than uneasy in this out of the way house. Some years 

 afterwards, I met him in a far distant land, when he assured 

 me, that whenever the sun shone on his cloak, or it was brought 

 near a fire, the scent of the skunk became so perceptible, that 

 he at last gave it to a poor monk in Italy. 



" The skunk, however, is frequently domesticated. The 

 removal of the glands prevents the secretion of the nauseous 

 fluid j and after this precaution has been taken, the animal 

 becomes a great favourite, and performs the offices of the 

 common cat with great dexterity." 



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