HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
mingle with chimpanzees or other monkeys. The 
finest gorilla country in the world is that between 
Cap Lopez and Eernan Vaz. That is Gorillaland. 
Whilst chimpanzees are found so far down as 
Sierra Leone and Conakry, the gorilla has not 
been found below the Gaboon and Gamerun dis- 
trict. The shooting and capture of the gorilla 
requires great courage. The Nature Hunter, 
armed with an old blunderbuss or ancient shot 
gun, will proceed along the paths frequented by 
the gorillas. They are down hunting for berries 
and wild fruit. They stand perfectly erect when 
approached by a human being. The hunter, when 
meeting the gorilla, is greeted by wild cries, also 
by the animal beating its breasts, thereby causing 
a sound as of beating on many drums. The 
Hunter deliberately points his weapon at the ani- 
mal's breast; the gorilla's one aim is to wrench 
the gun away and, to do so, places, the barrel in 
its mouth, with a view to crunch it; that is the 
one time when the shot must be fired — any hesi- 
tation, and the Hunter is lost — torn limb from 
limb. The above description was given me by a 
very old trader who had the facts given him by 
his own hunter. I am well aware this method of 
shooting has been severely criticised; nevertheless 
it is true. 
[To be continued in our next, when the account of the 
" Water Elephant " will be given.] 
SKUNK DEVELOPMENT. 
Below is an exact copy of a circular now issued 
by a certain Syndicate in the United States. For 
originality it Avould take a lot of beating. I have 
attempted most things in this business, but the 
Circular below is far in advance of anything I 
could produce in connection with the Live Stock 
Business. By the time this appears in print, I 
shall have received twenty of these precious ani- 
mals. They are precious, being surrounded by 
every conceivable extortionate charge of the 
"American Forwarders." I was politely told, 
"Have them or leave them." Well, I have them. 
The price is only five pounds each, being practi- 
cally cost. Here is the precious document: — 
Dear Sir,— As you have shown an interest in 
live stock we wish lo remind you, if you are not 
already a Fur-Farmer, that now is the best time 
to make a start. Black Skunks bring large profits 
and are easily raised. The Skunk is by nature 
semi-domestic and is therefore not so difficult to 
manage successfully as some of the more timid 
animals. Yfou can easily get some young Skunks 
this Spring by digging out a couple of litters, so 
your breeding stock will cost you nothing. 
Learn to remove the scent sacs and thus avoid 
all complaints of neighbors and any personal in- 
convenience. If you learn to do this you can sell 
your striped Skunks for pets or curiosities and in 
this way get good prices though the skins would 
be of small value. We can furnish breeding stock 
with scent sacs removed so you can start now. 
As we are asked certain questions so often we 
are pleased to give below answers to those most 
frequently received : — 
What is the best way for me to start raising 
Skunks for fur? Start with a few and increase 
the number as you care for them. Dig out or cap- 
ture a couple of litters this Spring. Mate the 
Males of one litter with the females of the other 
litter. There are usually eight to ten young in a 
litter. The old skunks mate about March 1st and 
the young are born about May 1st. Remove the 
male before the young are born. Furs are becom- 
ing scarcer and prices are continually advancing. 
Those who start early in this industry will make 
the most money. 
How can I breed for Black Skunks? Each year 
save your largest and blackest skunks to breed 
from. Market the skins of all the rest when 
prime. Be always on the lookout for blacker 
specimens, especially males. You can mate one 
black male to four or five females and even if the 
females are not entirely black there will be a good 
percentage of blaek among the young. 
What should I feed Skunks? Skunks in con- 
finement will eat meat of any kind, bread, skimmed 
milk, many sweet fruits, green corn and some 
other vegetables. Table leavings from hotels,, 
waste from slaughter-houses, dead farm stock or 
dead chickens are all eaten readily and take the 
place of the beetles, grubs and mice which the 
skunk lives on when free. Do not give decaved 
food. Supply fresh water regularly. 
I live in town; Can I keep Skunks without the 
scent disturbing my neighbors? Yes. You can 
remove the scent sacs from your skunks. This is 
very easy to do and the skunks do not mind it at 
all. They do not lose a meal. After the, scent 
sacs are removed the}' can never scent again. 
Your neighbors will not know you are raising 
skunks unless you tell them. We will send expert 
to remove scent sacs at $10' per day and expenses 
if you wish- Send 30 cents in stamps for our illus- 
trated book of complete instructions for removing 
scent sacs without spilling scent. It is easy to do. 
How long does it take to remove the scent sacs? 
With a little practice you can remove the scent 
sacs and make a skunk forever scentless in four 
or five minutes, or at the rate <>l 75 to 100 skunks 
per day. 
Docs an) of the scenl fluid escape when remov- 
ing the scent sacs? Not with our method. With 
our instruments you can remove both scent sacs 
complctelv without spilling a drop of the scent 
fluid. 
(To be continued.) 
