320 COMMON AMERICAN SKUNK. 



conclusion that when a pair are alike in colour the young will bear a 

 strong resemblance in their markings to the old. When on the contrary ■ 

 the parents differ, the young assume a variety of intermediate colours. 



DIMENSIONS. 







From point of nose to root of tail 



17 



inches 



Tail (vertebrae) 



• 8| 



do. 



Tail, to end of hair 



. 12f 



do. 



Distance between eyes .... 



• H 



do. 



From point of nose to corner of mouth 



• If 



do. 



Weight, 6i pounds. 







HABITS. 







There is no quadruped on the continent of North America the ap- 

 proach of which is more generally detested than that of the Skunk : 

 from which we may learn that, although from the great and the strong 

 we have to apprehend danger, the feeble and apparently insignificant 

 may have it in their power to annoy us almost be3'ond endurance. 



In the human species we sometimes perceive that a particular faculty 

 has received an extraordinary development, the result of constant devo- 

 tion to one subject ; w^hilst in other respects the mind of the individual 

 is of a very ordinary character. The same remark will hold good ap- 

 plied to any particular organ or member of the body, which, by constant 

 use, (like the organs of touch in the blind man,) becomes so improved as 

 to serve as a substitute for others : but in the lower orders of animals 

 this prominence in a particular organ is the result of its peculiar confor- 

 mation, or of instinct. Thus the power of the rhinoceros is exerted 

 chiefly by his nasal horn, the wild boar relies for defence on his tusks, 

 the safety of the kangaroo depends on his hind-feet, which not only en- 

 able him to make extraordinary leaps, but with which he deals vigorous 

 blows, the bull attacks his foes with his horns, the rattlesnake's deadly 

 venom is conveyed through its fangs, and the bee has the means of de- 

 stroying some of its enemies by its sting, whilst in every other power for 

 attack or self-defence these various creatures are comparatively feeble. 



The Skunk, although armed with claws and teeth strong and sharp 

 enough to capture his prey, is slow on foot, apparently timid, and would 

 be unable to escape from many of his enemies, if he were not possessed 

 of a power by which he often causes the most ferocious to make a rapid 

 retreat, run their noses into the earth, and roll or tumble on the ground 

 as if in convulsions ; and, not unfrequently, even the bravest of our 



