194 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
the fluid ejected by this animal from across the Hudson 
river, near Albany; we have no doubt of its being possi- 
ble to smell it at a much greater distance when the 
wind blows from the spot where the effluvium is thrown 
out. 
“ However singular the fancy may appear, we are assured 
by Catesby that he has seen one of these animals tamed as 
a pet, and following its owner like a little dog, without 
offering to offend any one by its peculiar odour, which it 
has the power of dispensing at will. When it is recollect- 
ed that on any provocation or threatened injury, the 
Skunk immediately fires upon his disturber, it will be con- 
ceded that such a pet must require a very cautious manage- 
ment, for to startle it suddenly, or injure it accident- 
ally, would expose both friends and enemies to a shower 
of ‘ liquid sweets,’ which all 2 the odours from the spicy 
shore of Araby the blest’ could not correct. 
“If the Skunk be killed while unsuspicious of the ap- 
proach of danger, or before time has been allowed for the 
discharge of his artillery of perfume, the animal is not in 
any way disagreeable, and may be approached closely, or 
even eaten without the least unpleasantness, if the glands 
be carefully taken out. Its flesh, when the odorous parts 
have been carefully removed, is said to be well flavour- 
ed, and resembles that of a pig considerably. It is eaten 
by the Indians, and occasionally by hunters, with much 
relish. 
“The Skunk is most generally found in the forests or 
their immediate vicinity, having its den either in the hol- 
low of an old tree or stump, or an excavation in the ground. 
It feeds upon the young and eggs of birds, and on small 
quadrupeds, wild fruits, &c. Occasionally the Skunk 
gains access to the poultry-yard, where it does much mis- 
chief by breaking and sucking the eggs, Or by killing the 
fowls. When resident in the vicinity of farm-houses, it 
remains for a long time without giving notice of its pre- 
sence by emitting its offensive fluid, which proves how 
ridiculous is the notion that the urine of this animal is the 
source of its disgusting fetor; for, as Hearn e justly ob- 
serves, were this the fact, the whole country it inhabits 
would be rendered almost insupportable to every other 
creature.” 
The Skunk, like most predatory animals, seldom travels 
in the day time, but so soon as twilight of the evening has 
approached, it sallies forth in search of prey, and while 
the unsuspicious and innocent objects of its search are 
sleeping, they become the easy victims to the rapacity of 
this destroyer. The Skunk destroys its prey almost in- 
stantly. This is in consequence of the suddenness with 
which it strikes the intended victim at the throat, and the 
sharpness of its teeth and strength of grasp produces death 
so soon, and with so much quietness, that even in a hen- 
roost no alarm is given to a neighbouring fowl by the in- 
truder, or the unfortunate sufferer. With, however, its 
destructive habits, it has some redeeming qualities, as it 
is a great enemy to rats, and will utterly destroy these 
vermin, as readily as the ferret; and it is said that some 
farmers on this account encourage their presence by all 
possible protection; and a certain author states, that “he 
witnessed an instance where a great number of rats were 
found in a stack of wheat, but all of them in the upper 
part; for several yards from the ground, not a rat was to 
be met with, which excited some surprise; but the cir- 
cumstance was fully explained on reaching the bottom, 
where it was found an enormous Skunk had taken up its 
abode.” 
This animal is very common throughout the United 
States, but, as it roams only during the night season, it is 
seldom seen, except by accident. The writer, during his 
residence at the paternal home, a few miles from this city, 
frequently encountered the Skunk, and became in a mea- 
sure familiarized to its disgusting habits: to a person, how- 
ever, ignorant of the animal and the stench it produces, 
the scent for the first time is exceedingly offensive and in- 
tolerable, and the most credulous would not believe its 
power, until it could be sensibly experienced. In one 
instance, while hunting woodcock during the month of 
August, one of my dogs encountered and killed a Skunk 
before I could approach the belligerents, and from the ef- 
fects of the fetor received in the battle, he was rendered 
entii'ely useless for a whole year, and did not recover the 
goodness of his nose for nearly double that time. Subse- 
quently I was hunting with the same dog after partridges, 
and while passing through a large wood, he came to a 
stand near a pile of cleft wood: thinking a rabbit had 
taken shelter beneath it, I endeavoured in vain to dislodge 
it; at length, stooping down to take a closer survey, I 
discovered a Skunk sitting in a defensive posture, ready 
in a moment to discharge its powerful artillery; wishing 
to have a joke with a gentleman who was with me, and 
who was entirely ignorant of the animal in question, I re- 
quested him to approach and examine the stranger, to 
which he assented; and after expressing his admiration, 
and made some inquiries about it, I told him to stand where 
he was until I shot it. Not suspecting my design, he ap- 
proached to within five or six feet, while I receded as 
many yards and shot the animal. Immediately my friend 
was enveloped in this horrible stench, almost to suffoca- 
tion, who retreated fifty or sixty yards, coughing and puff- 
ing so vehemently, as caused me to regret that I had played 
the trick on his ignorance. The volatility of this odour 
is wonderful, and can be scented at a great distance. In 
