THE ORDERS OF MAMMALS 



427 



The mink, like the otter, is fond of water. Its food consists of 

 birds, small mammals, and fish. The weasel (Fig. 293) is much 

 smaller but very bloodthirsty, often killing a great many more 



Fig. 293. — Weasel. (Photo, by Carlin from Stone and Cram. 

 Copyright by Doubleday, Page and Co.) 



birds and small mammals than it can eat. The skunk is 

 notorious because of the powerful odor of the secretion which 

 it can eject from a pair of scent glands at the base of the tail. 

 It feeds upon poultry, but pays for its board by killing grubs 

 and other noxious insects. The badger inhabits western North 

 America, lives in a burrow in the ground, and feeds on small 

 mammals. The wolverine (Fig. 294) occurs in the northern 



