NORTH AMERICAN MA M MALS 



67 



The common skunk is ;i very useful although greatly abused animal. 

 While it occasionally destroys poultry and other birds, its 



Skunk ..... .' . . \ . 



principal Food consists <>l 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 ejeel this fluid 



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 



to a considerable distance. Its skin makes a valuable fur known as 



"Alaskan sable." 



Two other fur-bearing animals shown are the mink and the 

 weasel, the latter in both its summer dress of dull brown and its 

 winter coat of white. Weasel fur is often used in place of ermine. 

 Another fur-bearing animal shown is the muskrat. In the group are 

 seen its summer home, usually a burrow in the bank of a 

 stream or pond, and its winter mound, constructed of swamp 



grass and roots mixed with mud. Muskrats are extensively trapped for 



their fur and in 1913 no less than 4,500,000 were sold in London. 



Mink and 

 Weasel 



Muskrat 



