THE SKUNK. THE WOOD-CHUCK. 



The Skunk. 



Among the smaller flesh-devouring animals, there is a family, peculiar to the American continent, tc 

 which the name of Skunks has been given. The most remarkable characteristic of this family is the 

 c;,pability of its members to eject a liquid odor, intolerably offensive both to man and beast. The Skunk 

 proper is about a foot and a half in length, with a large and long bushy tail. The general color is brownish 

 black. It burrows among the roots of trees, or rocky places, and feeds on birds, rats and other animals. 



The Wood-chuck is an inhabitant of that 

 portion of the western hemisphere situated 

 within the middle latitudes. It is covered 

 with short, coarse hair, of a dirty grey color. 



(105 



Wood-chuck 



Chinchillas. 



