The Skunk 



33 



and disagreeable odor. This secretion is stored in 

 two glands located under the tail, and may be ejected, 

 by muscular contraction, to the distance of about ten 

 feet. The contents of the glands are discharged, 

 probably one or both at a time, as the occasion de- 

 mands, in the form of a very fine spray. In addition 

 to its terrible odor, this liquid is so intensely acid 

 that it bums the skin like fire. In extreme cases such 

 a discharge has been known to produce blindness. 



When the skunk is facing you there is no danger 

 that he will discharge his artillery; it is only when he 

 turns tail toward the enemy that there need be alarm. 

 Many believe that the skunk scatters the essence 

 with his tail, but this is entirely incorrect, for the 

 skimk is a very cleanly animal, and during the dis- 

 charge the tail is arched high above the back to keep 

 it undefiled. If he were to wet his tail with the essence 

 he would attract many enemies in the vicinity, and 

 without doubt it is a matter of both prudence and 

 comfort for him to remain free from the stench. 



The Indians of the upper Columbia Valley have a 

 quaint legend concerning the origin of this peculiar 

 weapon of the skunk. According to the reports of the 

 War Department, in this particular part of the river 

 there are many rocks of fantastic forms. On the 

 top of one of these the following incident occurred : 



