

46 SECOND FLOOR, SOUTHEAST WING 

The common skunk is a very useful although greatly abused animal. 
While it occasionally destroys poultry and other birds, its 
principal food consists of injurious insects and field mice. 
Its defensive weapon is an excessively fetid fluid secreted by a pair of glands 
situated near the base of the tail. It has the ability to eject this fluid toa 

THE WEASEL GROUP 
One of the groups representing the small mammals found within fifty miles of New 
York City. The others of the series show opossum, raccoon, red and gray foxes, skunk, 
mink, muskrat, woodchuck, rabbits and squirrels. The list includes some ‘‘fur-bearing’’ 
species; weasel fur is often used instead of ermine. 
considerable distance. Its skin makes a valuable fur known as “ Alaskan 
sable.” 
: Two other fur-bearing animals shown are the mink and 
Bink and the weasel, the latter in both its summer dress of dull 
Weasel 
brown and its winter coat of white. Weasel fur is often used 
in place of ermine. 
