348 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIiST. 
[October, 
The Skunk. 
The North American skunk is called by nat¬ 
uralists, Mephitis chinr/a. It is a 'well known 
animal, and one with which many have a too 
intimate acquaintance. It is of about the size of 
the Kaccoon, but with shorter legs, and a longer 
body in proportion. The head is small, the end 
of the narrow snout blunt; the color is black 
and white or yellowish white, biack prepon¬ 
derating, and the fur is long, soft, though coarse, 
and very glossy. The tail is long, and might, 
with propriety, be called a “ SAvitch tail ” from 
the length of the hairs. The white and yellow¬ 
ish patches are disposed irregularly upon the 
head and back, and white hairs and spots may 
occur on any part of the body. They are per¬ 
sistent enemies of grubs, and insects. They eat 
mice too, and dis¬ 
play much skill 
in ferreting out 
mouse nests, for 
eating the young. 
They destroy the 
eggs of birds also, 
eat frogs and 
birds, and prob¬ 
ably also snakes 
and snake’s and 
turtle’s eggs. If 
an occasional visit 
to the iroultiy 
yard puts them 
under the ban of 
the law, do not let 
the vengeance be 
extended to other 
than the guilty in¬ 
dividuals. They 
are exceedingly 
peaceable, and 
mind their own 
business as well 
as any animals we are acquainted with, but if it 
becomes necessary for them to defend them¬ 
selves, their means of defence are so offensive 
and effectual, that neither man nor beast seeks 
a second encounter. There are two sacs, con¬ 
nected with secreting glands, Avhich are filled 
with a yellowish oily fluid. These are situated 
beneath the tail, and by a muscular motion, the 
fluid may be eject¬ 
ed Avith great force 
in a A’ery fine 
stream to a dis¬ 
tance of 15 or 20 
feet, and AA'ith con¬ 
siderable accuracy 
of aim. This is not 
urine, as has been 
supposed. The ef¬ 
fect of this nause¬ 
ous fluid upon a 
dog or a man, is 
to cause gasping 
for breath, and ef¬ 
fort to obtain fresh 
air by running in 
an opposite direc¬ 
tion to the enemy. 
The stench can 
bo removed from 
clothing by the ac¬ 
tion of the soil, 
Avhen buried for 
some Aveeks, but 
this is apt to cause 
it to mold and rot. 
These animals often take up their abodes in 
house cellars,or about the under-pinning of barns, 
etc., but cause no incoiiAmnience if not disturbed. 
They are best dispatched by a aa’cII directed shot. 
The flesh is delicate, and esteemed by those Avho 
can overcome their natural repugnance to it. 
Skunks are nocturnal in their habits, and 
very numerous. Their skins are valuable in 
proportion to their size and amount of black. 
The Kaccoon or Coon. 
The Kaccoon is one of the most interesting 
of the uatiAm quadrupeds of the United States, 
and claims our attention in the three-fold char¬ 
acter of friend, foe, and household pet. The 
great naturalist Linnaeus classed it in the same 
genus Avith the bears, {Ursus,) but natural¬ 
ists have since separated the genus, of which 
several species, all 
American,are rec¬ 
ognized. The coon 
is familiar to all 
American farmer 
folks; it is of 
about the size of a 
large cat, of a 
compact build; 
tlie entire soles of 
iis feet are bare, 
and standing, it 
rests upon its feet 
from toes to heels, 
flat, like a bear, 
but in Avalking it 
goes upon its toes 
<jnlA', like a cat. 
Its coat is very 
thick,composed of 
a soft, grey fur, 
and long glossy 
hairs, Avhich are 
marked alterately 
Avith black and 
greyish Avhite. The color therefore varies, as 
the spectator looks into it or across it, and accord- 
iiig to the light, giving it a pecuiiar richness. The 
i'ace has a dark band across the eyes, and a dark 
stripe doAvn the nose, Avhich are set off by light 
grejr surroundings. The tail, full and bushy, is 
marked by 5 or 0 A'ery distinct dark rings. The 
coon is easily tamed and becomes Aauy famiiiar; 
is characterized 
by playfulness, 
fondness of atten¬ 
tion, and for do¬ 
ing mischief. It 
is an omnivorous 
creature, eating al¬ 
most every thing, 
but being especial¬ 
ly fond of SAveet 
fruits, green corn, 
honey, nuts, shell 
fish, eggs, birds, 
insects, all kinds 
of grubs, Avorms, 
etc. In the spring 
it does the farmer 
no little service in 
destroying the 
grubs and other 
insects of his field, 
but in the autumn 
he takes his pay 
by eating all the 
green corn he 
Avants Avhen it is 
in the “ roasting 
ear ” state. The boys know exactly Avhen, and 
after the coon hunt, whether successful or not, 
they never forget to take pay for their good 
deed, or for their good Avill, as the case may be, 
out of the nearest corn fields. The bushel or 
two of nice ears roasted in the ashes of the fires 
AA'hich lighted them and their dogs in dispatch¬ 
ing the poor coon, is more than a Avhole family 
of coons Avould damage in the entire season. 
The Raccoon has a curious habit, which gives 
it its specific name, lotor, or Avasher. The 
Germans call it wasc?i-bar, or Avashing bear, 
from this peculiarity. Whenever it can do so, 
it takes its food and dips it in water, waving it 
to and fro. Coons visit poultry 3 mrds some¬ 
times, and the fact may be known by the 5-toed 
tracks, shoAviug occasionally that of the whole 
hind foot, like a miniature human foot print. 
KACCOON —Pfocyon lotor. 
They eat off the heads of poultry, usually leav'- 
ing their carcasses. Their habits are chiefly 
nocturnal, and they may be taken in box traps, 
steel traps, or by fall traps, baited with SAveet 
apples, etc. In autumn they become very fat, and 
they hibernate in Avinter. Their flesh is like 
bear’s meat, and quite agreeable, and their skins 
have considerable value in the fall, or Avinter. 
