Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-05-23
MEPHlTIS N.EPHITICA.
a Naturalist Gives Some Interesting
Points About q Curious Animal.

Salu q naturalist 10 u washington otuf
reporter "Of all mammals native to
this country none other is so universally
abused, and yet, although occasionally
guilty of offense, 10 other species is
nearly so valuable to the farmer. 1t is
true that skunks sometime rob hen
roosts, just as dogs kill sheep and cats
devour chickens; but generally speak
ing this beast is prominently the
friend of the agriculturist, destroying
more beetles, grasshoppers, and other
injurious insects than are done away
with by all animals beside. Also it de-
YOURS great numbers of mice.
THE skunk is not fond OF secretion,
but seeks the clearings and pastures
which surround the habitations of man.
and frequently it takes up its abode
under an outbuilding or neighboring
stump. sleeping away the day and at
nightfall coming forth to wander
through the garden, orchard, and
meadow for the purpose of preying
upon the insects that feast upon the
products of human toll. 1t is estimated
a single creature of this sort in one year
nets farmer more in dollars and cents
than he loses from the depredations of
the animals during his lifetime And
yet he rarely loses chance to kill one.
Among the mammals Of this coun-
try it would be difficult to find prettier
animal than the skunk. Its black body,
with narrow white stripe running up
the forehead and the broad band of
white extending from the crown down
the back, is very handsome, the large
and bushy tail, terminating in tuft of
cream white. assisting to produce most
pleasing effect The fur is long, thick,
and glossy, and makes beautiful
center for robe. Pelts which lack the
white and black stripes are largely en-
ployed in the manufacture OF fine furs
and are sold under the name Of Alaska
sable.
"The skunk does not evince the dread
of man that is manifested usually by
mammals, and. when encountered, he
rarely thinks of running away. On the
contrary, his curiosity is aroused and he
is apt to come forward to investigate.
A weakness of his is inquisitiveness.
Skunks, particularly when young, make
very pretty pets, being attractive in ap-
pearance, gentle in disposition, interest
ing in manners, and c'eanly in habits.
They are playful, sometimes mischiev-
Gus, and manifest considerable affection.
1.-TWO su miners ago was the happy
master of the cleverest young skunk I
have tn IS far Glanced to meet Me-
phitis mephitica being the name of the
genus, l called him 'Meph' for short.
By way of precaution l removed his
scent sack. While driving about the
country he ually slept in my pocket
When l went walking he followed close
at my heels. If l walked too fast for
him he would scold and stamp with his
fore feet. and if l persisted in keeping
too far ahead he would turn about dis
gustedly and go home. We used to
walk through the woods to meadow
which abounded with grasshoppers. and
there Meph' would revel i'll his favor
lite food. He would eat so many that
his over dstended little belly actually
dragged upon the ground. When so
small that he could scarcely toddle about
lie never hesitated to tackle the large
and powerful beetle known as the
horned lug,' and got many smart nips
from his audacity. After he had learned
to handle them with impunity he ven-
tured to attack mice.
"'Meph's' nest was in box near the
foot of the stairs, and before he grew
strong enough to climb out by himself
he would stand on his hind legs and beg
to be carried upstairs. Skunks have
large families from six to ten young
ones being commonly raised each
season. The flesh of the skunk is white,
tender, and delicious to eat, being not
unlike chicken, though more delicate.
have eaten skunk flesh boiled, broiled,
roasted, fried, and fricasseed, and am
prepared to assert that anything more
toothsome in the way of meat is hard
to get
1.-THE fore feet of the skunk are armed
with long claws, which he employs in
excavating his burrows and in digging
for mice. Also he has a fine set of
sharp teeth, but his chief weapon of de.
tense lies in the secretion of pair of
glands which are imbedded in a mass Of
muscle that serves to compress them so
forcibly that the fluid they contain may
be elected to the distance of more than
IS feet. The secretion is a clear fluid
of golden yellow color; its odor is SO
pervading that it has been lnown to be
waited recognizabiy distance Of 20
miles. So powerful are the fumes of
this secretion that persons who have
breathed them at close quarters have
been known to lose consciousness, the
temperature of the body falling and
the pulse slackening. Death would
doubtless result if the inhalation were
prolonged. Persons-myself among the
number-have suffered from contact Of
this acrid liquid with the eye, the cir
cumstance causing intense pain and
setting up violent Inflammation. Re-
liable accounts are given of entire loss
of vision from this cause. On the other
hand the secretion has been found to be
an efficacious remedy in asthma, whoop-
ing cough, and spasmodic Group
ut was for many years believed, even
by naturalists, that the scent OF the
skunk was its urine, but this is not true,
the secretion being made by a pair Of
special glands. Nor is it true that the
animal scatters its scent with its tail.
Furthermore, it is not the fact, as is
commonly believed, that a skunk is
always ready to spatter any one who
chances to come within range. On
the contrary, the beast waits until it is
hurt or very seriously frightened before
it emits the secretion