MEPHITIS MEPHITICA, (Barrp). 
THE SKUNK. 
Specific Character.—Soles naked, except on the posterior third. Tail ver- 
tebre half the length of head and body, with hairs considerably less. Colour 
black ; a narrow frontal line; a broad triangular nuchal patch, continuous, with 
a narrow line on either side of the back, nearly to the tail, and a tuft on the end 
of the tail, white. The dorsal stripes sometimes broader; sometimes wanting as 
also the nuchal patch. 
Habitat—Hudson’s Bay to Guatemala, very common in Ontario. 
Average Size.—Equal to that of a large cat. 
Average Weight.—8 pounds. 
Average Height.—7 inches. 
Average Length.—2 feet; nose to tail 15 inches; tail 9 inches. 
Value of Fur.—Per skin, average 25c. to $1.50. 
This beautiful but malodorous animal is about the size of a large cat, bulkier 
in body but not solong. The general colour is brownish black, with white 
longitudinal stripes on each side of the back as well as on the head. Some speci- 
mens are without the white stripes and have only a nuchal patch of white 
The tail is long and bushy, white on the under at the root of the hairs, and 
black on the upper surface. 
The feet have five toes, those on the fore feet being armed with strong 
curved claws which are used with great effect in burrowing. 
The skunk is a slow moving animal, and unless when suddenly disturbed, 
never attempts to hurry itself. 
In its anal glands is secreted a yellowish, transparent fluid, which in odour 
is intolerably offensive. When angry, or acting on the defensive, the skunk 
_ ejects this fluid to a distance of two or three yards in the form of a spray, and 
so penetrating is this horrid fluid, that a brisk wind will carry it a hundred yards 
away, to scatter consternation amongst men and beasts. None but those who 
have smelled the discharge at close quarters can form any idea of its awful 
strength and sickening odour. 
The skunk is cleanly in habit and a distinctly nocturnal animal. It is car- 
nivorously inclined and never loses an opportunity of burglarizing the poultry 
yard if one is near at hand, 
Being gregarious, numbers of these animals are to be found together in their 
_ dens, where, during the winter, they hibernate. 
The bite of the skunk is said to produce hydrophobia in a form absolutely in- 
distinguishable from that produced by the bite of a mad dog. 
Its fur is valuable and much in demand, being used principally for trimmings. 
.The young are born in June or July and from four to ten are produced ata 
time. 
