THE SKUNK. 
The very mention of this creature’s name at once calls 
up the recollection of no end of queer stories and funny 
tales told by our Yankee cousins respecting the abomin- 
able and oveiq 30 wering stench that may be encountered on 
too near an approach to this detestable animal. 
No one who has once had a taste of the odour — I use 
the word “ taste ” advisedly, as the sense, in some instances, 
by which smells or odours are perceived also at one and 
the same time begets a sense of taste, and therefore the 
perfume is tasted — would feel desirous of renewing the 
acquaintance ; so dreadful and nauseous is it that it, in 
some persons, produces sickness and headache of the most 
painful kind. As, however, every rule has its exception, 
so has this, as notwithstanding the terrible character 
attached to the skunk, it is a very clean and well-behaved 
individual; in fact, a sweet skunk, if one may be allowed 
to make use of that mild expression. It is, indeed, re- 
markable and singularly interesting to find an animal of 
this description so tame and so good-tempered that it will 
allow itself to be tenderly handled and lovingly caressed. 
This is the case with more than one sort of skunk. Several 
specimens of the common species of North America 
{Me^^jMtes mepliitiea) have been brought to this country 
perfectly tame and well-conducted ; had it been otherwise 
they never would have been allowed to cross the Atlantic, 
as one whiff of the odour most certainly would have called 
down upon the offender the vengeance of the entire ship’s 
15V 
