LARGE-TAILED SKUNK. 
13 
considered safely captured, and was slung to one of the pack-saddles of the 
baggage-mules. The fetor of this young skunk was not so horrid as that 
of the common species ( Mephitis chinga). 
On arriving at the camping ground for the night, the party found that 
their prisoner had escaped by gnawing a hole in the bag, being unobserved 
by any one. 
This species is described as very common in some parts of Texas, and 
its superb tail is now and then used by the country folks by way of plume 
or feather in their hats. J. W. Audubon, in his Journal, remarks : “ We 
were much amused at the disposition manifested by some of the privates in 
the corps of Hangers, to put on extra finery when opportunity offered. At 
one time a party returned from a chase after Indians whom they had over- 
taken and routed. Several of them had whole turkey-cocks’ tails stuck on 
one side of their hats, and had long pendant trains of feathers hanging 
behind their backs, which they had taken from the 1 braves’ of the Wakoes. 
One young fellow, about eighteen years of age, had a superb head-dress and 
suit to match, which he had taken from an Indian, whom, to use Ins own 
expression, he had scared out of it ; he had, to complete the triumphal 
decoration of his handsome person, painted his face all the colours of the 
rainbow, and looked fierce enough. In contrast with these freaks of some 
of the men, we noticed that their tried and chivalrous leaders, Hays, 
Walker, Gillespie, and Chevalier, were always dressed in the plainest 
costume the ‘ regulations’ permitted. 
The Large-Tailed Skunk feeds upon snakes, lizards, insects, birds’ eggs, 
and small animals ; and it is said that at the season when the pecan ( Carya 
olivaeformis) ripens, they eat those nuts, as well as acorns. This is 
strange, considering their carnivorous formation. They burrow in winter, 
and live in hollows and under roots. They produce five or six young at a 
birth. 
We are indebted to Col. Geo. A. McCall, U. b. A., for the following 
interesting account of an adventure with one of these Skunks, which, 
besides being written in an entertaining and lively manner, sets forth in a 
strong light the dread the very idea of being defiled by these offensive 
brutes causes in every one who has ever been in those parts of the country 
they inhabit : — 
“ In New Mexico, in September last, returning from Los Yegas to Santa 
I’d, I halted for the night at Cottonwood creek. Here, I pitched my tent 
on' the edge of a beautiful grove of the trees ( Populus angulatus) which 
> give name to the stream. 
“ Wishing to reach my destination at an early hour on the morrow, I 
directed the men to be up before day, in order that they might feed their 
