24 



VERTEBRATES: MAMMALS. 



Skunks are found only in 

 America, and are notorious on 

 account of their disagreeable 

 odor. They are a foot and a half 

 long to the tail, and the color is 

 black and white. They live in 

 burrows, and seek their food at 

 night, eating beetles and other 

 small insects, and eggs. 



The Badger of Western North 

 America is about two feet long, with a stout body and 



Fig. 52. Skunk. 



Fig. 53. American Badger. 



short tail, and its color is gray. The hair is long, ex- 

 tending on the hind part of the body so as nearly to 

 conceal the tail. Badgers live in burrows, and dig with 

 astonishing rapidity. 



BEARS AND RACCOONS. 



Bears and others of this family walk on the whole 

 sole of the foot. They feed upon flesh, berries, and 

 roots. 



The Raccoon of the United States is about as large 

 as a middle-sized dog, with a thick body, looking some- 



