174 MARVELS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 



frogs is caught it invariably strives to insert the 

 spurs into the hand that holds it.' 



In addition to those creatures previously men- 

 tioned as employing their tails as weapons, there are 

 others which indulge in a similar practice. The 

 large lizards known as iguanas and monitors will 

 lash out at their adversaries with their caudal 

 appendages ; while the whales are able to render a 

 good account of themselves in a like manner. 

 The thresher shark is also stated to utilise that 

 member as a means of offence, as well as for the 

 purpose of lashing the water in order to frighten and 

 herd together the fish upon which it preys, so that 

 it can the more conveniently feed upon them. 



Several kinds of animals, such as the skunk, the 

 zorilla, and the Malay badger rely upon their power 

 to eject an evil-smelling fluid wherewith to repel 

 their enemies. The secretion yielded by the former 

 creature is of a very powerful nature, and the fumes 

 which arise therefrom produce a condition of nausea, 

 or even unconsciousness, if inhaled for any length 

 of time. Should the liquid be ejected into the eye, 

 it not only sets up a painful inflammation, but has 

 been known to cause blindness. In spite of its 

 objectionable odour, the secretion was employed 

 in former days as a ' smelling-salt ' for the cure of 

 asthma ; and it is related that a clergyman, suffering 

 from that malady, was in the habit of taking a 

 tightly -corked bottle full of the remedy into the 

 pulpit when he was about to preach, and sniffing at 

 it when the need arose. Unfortunately, however, 

 on one occasion he inadvertently removed the cork, 



