182 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



the fine handkerchiefs mother washes blow away down 

 the field, I can find them in the darkest night." 



" Then yon can understand that the Skunk, who is 

 sutiiciently protected by his evil odor, may wear this 

 striped flag to warn other animals not to come upon 

 him too suddenly. Here, Nez, kindly take this fur- 

 covered sachet away ; the boys will not forget how he 

 looks, I'ln sure." 



" Skunks are full of play and tricks, if they do smell 

 a bit rank," said Nez, as he returned, followed by Mr. 

 Blake. " I've kept young uns round camps where I've 

 been, and they're good eatin', too, if tliey are killed out- 

 right and skinned, — no, you needn't whistle, ]\Ir. Blake, 

 I've often broiled 'em like tender spring chickens. Tliey 

 are stupid, too, and if you put a trap in the runway 

 from their holes to the water, thej^'H be sure to get into 

 it, and seein' one caught doesn't prevent his neighbor 

 from walkin' straight over him into another trap." 



" Do they stay out all winter like the Otters ? " asked 

 Nat. 



" That depends on the place and the weather. About 

 here they keep lively right along, but further north 

 they may den up for a bit the coldest part of tlie sea- 

 son. But take these otlier two, tlie Weasel and jNIink, 

 they are lively most of the time." 



" What an ugly-looking little beast a Weasel is," 

 said Nat, taking the slender animal, whicli was about a 

 foot long, in his hand. " Rod caught ever so many 

 around tire chicken liouse last summer, but they were 

 brown and not a sort of dirty white like this one, and 

 it has a black tip to its tail. Do tliey moult out in 

 autumn, Nez ? " 



