166 
PASSIONAL ZOOLOGY. 
Tiated near tlie tail, and secreting an odorous liquor. This odor, 
which is only fetid in the temperate climates, asphyxiates and 
poisons in the species of Central America, the Chinchilla, Zorilla, 
etc. Cases are known of persons asphyxiated and stifled in their 
beds by one of these ; and their passage through a barn, a cel- 
lar, or fruitery, suffices to spoil all the provisions, to render all the 
food touched by the smell, uneatable, all the liquids undrink- 
able. The charitable hearts of my readers will learn with joy that 
the science of military genius, the science of legal destruction, has 
recently borrowed of the skunk its system of poisoning at a dis- 
tance. We are not generally prepared for the surprises provided 
for us in the approaching resumption of hostilities between abso- 
lutism and democracy. For example : In the pompous bulletins of 
that time we shall read — After two hours cannonade at the dis- 
tance of sixteen hundred yards, the conquered enemy fled in every 
direction, shamefully abandoning to us their cannon and their 
arms, . . . and holding their noses. Never was victory more 
complete, with less cost of blood . . . the enemy fell like flies, 
executing the most grotesque and laughable contortions. Nasal 
witnesses have asserted that the infection of our bomb -shells was 
such that the air was poisoned to the distance of many miles 
around.” 
It is said that the skunk only uses its asphyxiating property 
in self defense. It seems more probable that beasts of this cate- 
gory should do evil simply for the pleasure of evil. 
However this be, it is in this family of blood-drinkers that we 
meet with animals wearing the finest and choicest furs, which has 
given an immense interest to their chase in America and in Sibe- 
ria. The sable marten belongs to this race ; it inhabits Siberia, 
where the taxes are paid in furs ; a sable skin sells now at twenty- 
five dollars. The marten of Canada will not bring one fifth that 
sum — that of the forests of Europe, still less. 
Analogy gives the reason of that thirst of blood with which this 
species is perpetually incited ; also of the insupportable smell which 
they exhale, and why their robes are so thick and silky. These 
blood- drinkers (mustelians), symbolize the small robbers and as- 
sassins, the poisoners of food, the adulterators of liquors, whose 
