322 COMMON AMERICAN SKUNK. 



fluid. Washing and exposure to the atmosphere certainly weaken the 

 scent, but the wearer of clothes that have been thus infected, should he 

 accidently stand near the fire in a close room, may chance to be morti- 

 fied by being reminded that he is not altogether free from the conse- 

 quences of an " unpleasant " hunting excursion. We have, however, 

 found chloride of lime a most effectual disinfector when applied to our 

 recent specimens. That there is something very acrid in the fluid eject- 

 ed by the Skunk, cannot be doubted, when we consider its effects. Dr. 

 Richardson states that he knew several Indians who lost their eyesight 

 in consequence of inflammation produced by its having been thro'vvn into 

 them by the animal. The instant a dog has received a discharge of this 

 kind on his nose and ejes, he appears half distracted, plunging his nose 

 into the earth, rubbing the sides of his face on the leaves and grass, and 

 rolling in every direction. We have known several dogs, from the eyes 

 of which the swelling and inflammation caused by it did not disappear 

 for a week ; still we have seen others, which, when on a raccoon hunt, 

 did not hesitate in despite of the consequences, to kill every Skunk they 

 started, and although severely punished at the time, they showed no re- 

 luctance to repeat the attack the same evening, if a fresh subject pre- 

 sented itself 



This off'ensive fluid is contained in two small sacs situated on each 

 side of the root of the tail, and is ejected through small ducts near the 

 anus. We have on several occasions witnessed the manner in which 

 this secretion is discharged. When the Skunk is irritated, or finds it 

 necessarjf to defend himself, he elevates his tail over his back, and by a 

 strong muscular exertion ejects it in two thread-like streams in the direc- 

 tion in which the enemy is observed. He appears to take an almost un- 

 erring aim, and almost invariably salutes a dog in his face and ej-es. 

 Dr. RicHARDsox states that he ejects this noisome fluid for upwards of 

 four feet ; in this he has considerably underrated the powers of this natu- 

 ral syringe of the Skunk, as we measured the distance on one occasion, 

 when it extended upwards of fourteen feet. The notion of the old 

 authors that this fluid is the secretion of the kidneys, thrown to a dis- 

 tance by the aid of his long tail, must be set down among the vulgar 

 errors, for in that case whole neighbourhoods would be compelled to 

 breath a tainted gale, as Skunks are quite common in many parts of the 

 country. 



The Skunk, in fact, is a very cleanly animal, and never suffers a drop 

 of this fluid to touch his fur ; we have frequently been at the mouth of 

 his burrow, and although a dozen Skunks might be snugly sheltered 

 within, we could not detect the slightest unpleasant smell. He is as 



