The Weasel Family — Polecat Geoup. 187 



THE SKUNK. 



A well known scientist, when asked if the Skunk was 

 a polecat, replied: "Yes — and more too." Cuvier ex- 

 plains the meaning of this remark when he says : "Among 

 a family remarkable for its stench, the Skunk (Mephitis- 

 mephitica) is distinguished by a sort of stench far ex- 

 ceeding that of the remaining species. The odor it pro- 

 duces resembles that of the Polecat, mixed with a strong 

 smell of garlic — nothing could be more nauseous"; any 

 one who has encountered it, will know why the French 

 formerly called this animal " enf arifdu-diable "— the child 

 of the devil. 



Like the Polecats, the Skunk has thirty-four teeth; 

 two false molars above, and three below ; but the superior 

 tuberculous one is very large, and as long as it is broad, 

 and the inferior carnivorous has two tubercles on its 

 inner side; circumstances which ally it to the Badger, 

 .just as the Polecat approximates to the Grison and the 

 Glutton. The anterior nails of the Skunk, like those of 

 the Badger, are long and fitted for digging, and they are 

 moreover semi-plantigrade. The American Skunk has 

 sometimes been called the Fitchet of Pennant. Its general 

 color is brownish black with a white tip on the head. It is 

 marked on the back with white stripes of considerable 

 individual variation, narrow in some and wide in other 

 specimens, but all have the white spot on the head, and a 

 white tip at the end of the long, bushy tail, which they 

 carry curved over the back when walking. The slightly 

 curved claws are set in straight toes. The head is small, 

 and the ears are short and round, and the stoutly built 

 body is moderately elongated. It is terrestrial and fos- 

 sorial in its habits. 



The Skunks make their homes in holes in the ground, 

 in hollow trees, or in crannies in the rocks. They are 

 good climbers but prefer the clearings and the open 

 glades to the dense forests. The young are born in the 

 spring, six to ten in number, and remain with the mother 

 until the following spring. Dr. Merriam says, that 

 when captured early in life, Skunks make pretty and 



