lYS FAMILIAR LIFE IN FIELD AND FOREST. 



There seems to be a universal and absurd theory 

 that the skunk scatters the scent with his tail ; this 

 is an altogether mistaken apd ridiculous notion scarce- 

 ly worthy of passing comment, for it is evident that 

 he elevates the tail not only from cleanly motives, 

 but because it would seriously interfere with his aim. 



There is one more fallacious idea connected with 

 the skunk, and that is that his bite is attended by a 

 species of rabies — Rabies mej^hitica* as it has been 

 called. This is all nonsense, and absurdly contrary 

 to the " germ theory " of disease which meets univer- 

 sal acceptance among physicians to-day. A skunk 

 bitten by a dog or any animal afflicted with rabies 

 might transmit that disease again by his bite ; but 

 without such an occurrence the bite of the skunk will 

 be a Mte^ and nothing more. It is true that his teeth 

 are sharp and that they can inflict severe wounds, but 

 nothing more unless he is diseased. 



Probably there are fe.w of us who could imagine 

 the flesh of the skunk furnishing a dainty and choice 

 dish for one's dinner; but, according to Dr. Merriam, 

 it is far more delicate than the tenderest chicken. I 

 quote what he has to say on the subject with the same 



* This strange theory was not only exhaustively treated in an 

 article in Forest and Stream (vide vol. xvi, No. 24, page 473) by 

 the Rev. JIv. Hovey, but was seriously considered by Elliott Coues 

 in a later writing; see his Fur-bearing Animals. 



