HUNTING DANGEROUS GAME. 



3C3 



to a huge pot bubbling over the fire. This 

 is the Chippewa word for skunk. From 

 which, it is said, is derived the name Chi- 

 cago. 



Harry and I hunted deer, and killed 

 skunks, for several days. In all, we found 

 12 dens and killed 22 of the inmates. Most 

 of the holes were shallow, in marshy 

 places; such spots evidently being preferred 

 in winter to the sand ridges, their summer 

 resorts. 



These shallow holes were generally cov- 

 ered with dry grass, but the deep holes 

 had no covering, though there was always 

 a big nest of grass inside. 



Not more than one old male was found 

 in any hole; and the males were usually 

 alone. One den contained an old male, 2 

 females and 5 young, which were nearly as 

 large as the old ones. Only one was found 

 that showed fight. This was a male, and he 

 growled and bit sticks savagely. 



Often one of us would pull a skunk out 

 of a hole by the tail, giving it a throw, while 

 the other deer hunter would strike it with a 

 club, in the most approved style, of baseball 

 practice. Apparently the animal could not 

 " throw scent " when held by the tail. They 

 can throw it only 4 or 5 feet at any time, 

 and then it is disseminated as fine spray. 

 Of course the wind may carry it some dis- 

 tance. 



When digging out a deep hole, so the 

 scent was confined within a small space, the 

 effect on the lungs was like the fumes of 

 sulphur. The sensation would last for sev- 

 eral hours. 



While talking of skunks, it may not be 

 out of place to say they are natives of 

 America. The scientific name, Mephitis 

 mephitica, means " bad odor." Twenty 

 writers or more have given as many names 

 to this little creature, all agreeing in this 

 particular. The French call him enfant du 

 diable. 



I would scorn to boast, but, nevertheless, 

 our Northern-Minnesota skunks are the 

 best skunks in America. They can smell 

 harder, farther and longer and do it oftener 

 than any others that I have personally sam- 

 pled. They are the largest and most uni- 



form in coloring. The white stripes are all 

 narrow, or occasionally only a half stripe. 

 Farther South the animals are smaller, 

 varying from all black to some having 

 broad stripes and even nearly white. 



The skunk subsists mostly on large in- 

 sects — beetles and grasshoppers — but eats 

 small mammals, birds, and sometimes ber- 

 ries. The young are born naked, but the 

 white stripes show plainly on the skins. 



One evening in early fall, as I was going 

 toward camp, I saw a family of skunks just 

 starting out to look for their supper. The 

 old one was ahead, and the whole family — 5 

 youngsters, following in her tracks. 



I took off my hat and watched the proces- 

 sion pass. Another time, as I was standing 

 in a thicket, a skunk came waddling along 

 right to my feet, sticking up its nose and 

 snuffing at me; but he could not make me 

 out, so ambled off again. 



I have often had then come around camp 

 at night and lick the dishes scattered around 

 the fire, thus saving the trouble of washing 

 them. 



The best way to catch a skunk is to fasten 

 a trap to the end of a fish-pole. When 

 caught, drag him off to the mill pond, or 

 your neighbor's well, and drop him in. No 

 unpleasant results will follow — at least not 

 from the skunk. 



The oil of these animals has many virt- 

 ues. Among the scenes of my childhood, 

 " when fond recollection presents them to 

 view," are visions of large doses of this oil 

 mixed with sugar — ugh! 



So interested was I in skunks that I near- 

 ly forgot to mention the killing of a deer, 

 a yearling buck, of about the usual size and 

 complexion. We saw some big bucks, but 

 they all got away. With many regrets, 

 Harry and I finally loaded up the little 

 wagon and started back from the woods, 

 back to the joys and sorrows of everyday 

 life again; but the memory of that deer 

 hunt haunts my mind like the dream of a 

 poet. 



" You may break the vase if you will, 

 But the scent of the roses will cling round 

 it still." 



A LAST RESORT. 



" Chumply has broken the ice with Miss 

 Frosty at last." 



"How did he do it?" 

 " Took her skating." 



