ZOOLOGY. 
45 
4 
of its name, have not failed to admire it; and, indeed, the same thing has occurred in reference 
to the larger species, ( M . cliinga and M. mesoleuca.) If we were divested of certain prejudices, 
and these animals of certain perfumes, it is probable we should regard them, as they certainly 
deserve, as very handsome creatures. 
To any collector in zoology who may happen to have, as an idiosyncracy, a dislike of some 
odors, it may be useful to know that there are several ways of taking skunks without causing 
them to emit their perfume. The best way is to catch, the animal in a box trap, and to plunge 
the trap unopened into water, by that means drowning the skunk. If killed suddenly very 
dead by a rifle ball or shot, they are inodorous. Another mode sometimes practised, and 
sometimes successful, is to attack the skunk with a small dog, and while his attention is 
engaged, to walk boldly up, and seizing him by the tail, raise him instantly into the air, when 
he may be despatched by blows on the head, his system of defence in such circumstances being 
inoperative. 
TAXIDEA AMERICANA. 
American Badger. 
Ursus taxus, Schreber, Saugt. Ill, 1778, 520, fig. 142, B. (From Buffon.) 
Meles tarns, var. /? americanus, Boddaert, Elenchus Anim. I, 1784, 130. 
Meles americanus, (“ Bodd.”) Zimmermann, Pennant’s Arktische Zoologie I, 1787, 74. 
Taxidea americana, Baird, Gen. Rep, Mammals, 1857, 202. 
Ursus labradorius, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1, 1788, 102. 
Kerr’s Linmeus, 1792, 187. 
Siiaw, Gen. Zool. Mamm. I, 1800, 469 ; pi. cvi. 
Meles labradoria, Meyer, Zool. Arcliiv. II, 1796, 45. 
Aud. & Bacii N. A. Quad. I, 1849, 360 ; pi. xlvii. 
Sr. Cn.—Head grizzled grey, black on the end of snout and along the eyes. A median white line from near the nose to 
the nape. Legs and a crescentic patch before the ears black. Cheeks and under parts generally white. 
In traversing the arid surfaces of the sage plains of eastern California, Utah, and Oregon, 
there is, perhaps, no one thing which the traveller may be more sure of seeing every day of his 
journey than the burrow of a badger ; and, after cursing the country, and the folly which, led 
him to cross these barren, hot, and dusty surfaces, there is nothing he will more certainly do, 
whether on foot or mounted, than tumble into one of these same badger holes, and yet the 
chances are more than equal that he never sees a living badger on which to revenge himself; 
for the badger is a shy and timid animal, and the country which he inhabits is so open, it 
rarely happens that he is surprised at a distance from his burrow. During our march of seve¬ 
ral hundred miles through the country inhabited by the badger this did occur, however, on one 
or two occasions, and gave rise to some ludicrous scenes. The badger, though far from formid¬ 
able, is too well provided with teeth to be handled without gloves ; and knowing that his only 
safety when attacked is in plunging to the bottom of his burrow, his pig-headed pertinacity in 
endeavoring to reach it is such, that an unarmed man finds it difficult to stop him. 
Mr. Anderson, who gave me most efficient aid in collecting, came one day suddenly upon a 
badger at some distance from his hole ; of course he made for it with all possible speed, which, 
it should be said, is not so great but that a man could easily overtake one. Mr. Anderson 
first endeavored to trample him under his horse’s feet, but, though he ran over him several 
times, the badger avoided the hoofs, and received no injury. As we had not then obtained a 
specimen, he was particularly anxious to secure this one, so he drove his horse before him, and 
brought him to bay. He then jumped off, and went towards him, hoping, by means of kicks 
