THAT FAMOUS ESSENCE PEDDLER. 163 



upon : mice, salamanders, grasshoppers, beetles, larvae, 

 grubs, and caterpillars* This is not a bad list, and, 

 taking into consideration the fact that he makes away 

 with a vast number of mice and grasshoppers, besides 

 those insects which are peculiarly destructive to the 

 hopvine, it is not surprising that the Legislature of 

 the State of ISTew York seriously considered a bill 

 many years ago for his protection. Truth to tell, he 

 eats more insects than any other mammal,f if we are 

 to believe the testimony of at least three eminent 

 naturalists, and it follows that he must be of great 

 service to the farmer. 



Some years ago I came to the conclusion, based 

 upon a few observations, that the skunk was not only 

 an interesting and useful animal, but a very beautiful 

 one, so far as his coat was concerned, and that so- 

 ciety in general, particularly drawing-room society, 

 was not paying him the attention he deserved. To 

 be siire, the skunk may not be an appropriate topic 

 for the drawing-room, nevertheless his name is often 

 whispered there, for the reason that his domain is 

 now undoubtedly encroached upon by the outposts of 

 refined civilization. The refuse tub of more than one 



* I admit that he unfortunately robs the henroost at times. 



f The excrement of the skunk consists almost wholly of the in- 

 digestible parts of insects, such as the black shells of beetles, legs 

 of grasshoppers, etc. ; it is remarkably black. 



