74 



THE SNOW-WALKERS. 



witness against him. The birds, especially the ground- 

 builders, suffer in like manner from his plundering pro- 

 pensities. 



The secretion upon which he relies for defense, and 

 which is the chief source of his unpopularity, while it 

 affords good reasons against cultivating him as a pet, 

 and mars his attractiveness as game, is by no means 

 the greatest indignity that can be offered to a nose. It 

 is a rank, living smell, and has none of the sickening 

 qualities of disease or putrefaction. Indeed, I think a 

 good smeller will enjoy its most refined intensity. It 

 approaches the sublime, and makes the nose tingle. 

 It is tonic and bracing, and, I can readily believe, has 

 rare medicinal qualities. I do not recommend its use 

 as eye-water, though an old farmer assures me it has 

 undoubted virtues when thus applied. Hearing, one 

 night, a disturbance among his hens, he rushed sud- 

 denly out to catch the thief, when Sir Mephitis, taken 

 by surprise, and no doubt much annoyed at being in- 

 terrupted, discharged the vials of his wrath full in the 

 farmer's face, and with such admirable effect, that, for 

 a few moments, he was completely blinded, and power- 

 less to revenge himself upon the rogue, who embraced 

 the opportunity to make good his escape ; but he de- 

 clared that afterwards his eyes felt as if purged by fire, 

 and his sight was much clearer. 



In March, that brief summary of a bear, the raccoon, 

 comes out of his den in the ledges, and leaves his sharp 

 digitigrade track upon the. snow, — travelling not un- 



