INTRODUCING MR. AND MRS. SKUNK 43 
coat is a protection—prevents his being mis- 
taken for some other fellow. 
A skunk is easily trapped. He is a dull- 
witted fellow, and has little strategy or suspicion. 
So well protected is he against attack, and so 
readily can he seize upon the food just secured 
by another, that rarely does he become excited 
or move quickly. He never seems to hurry or 
WoITy. 
I do not believe that I ever missed an oppor- 
tunity to see a skunk close up. Of course I 
never aimed to thrust myself upon them. But 
repeatedly I was surprised by them and it took 
days to get over it. 
A brush pile was filled with skunks. When 
I leaped upon it they rushed forth on every 
side, stopped, and waited for me to go away. I 
was in a hurry, and as they refused to be driven 
farther off I made way for liberty. 
Skunks are not bad people; they simply re- 
fuse to be kicked around or to have salt placed 
upon their plumy tails. Sooner or later every 
animal in a skunk’s territory turns his back on 
the skunk and refuses to have anything to do 
with him. But the skunk turns first. 
The skunk to go into action reverses ends and 
puts up his tail. Every animal in the woods 
wonders as he meets a skunk; wonders, ‘‘ What 
luck now?” Head he wins or tails the skunk 
