The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-10
THE DEFENCBs OF ANNALS.
Some of Their Curious WenpOns-Va-
riOus Senses ARected--A Fight BE-
tween swans.


tween swans.
From the New York Post.
The other evening I walked to the top
of the hill to watch the sun set behind
the autumn glory" of the woods After
the last glowing light had swept the Grim
son and gold on the slopes, 1 sat still for
a few moments. and ali at once became
aware Of an animal leisurely walking upon
one of the stone walls which form the
fences between the fields Ny constant
companion in such rambles-the opera
gass-showed the creature to be a skunk,
or, as the natives call it, a polecat On
ward the animal came with its long white
and black tail lying along its back, until
it was not more than three yards from
where ! was silently sitting. l must have
made some UNCONSCIOUS movement, for
suddenly II stopped and the tail became
erect. Without hesitation | paid good heed
to the danger signal and retreated little
distance. His mephitic majesty apparent
ly was satisfied with the concession, and
walked slowly on, still keeping TO the top
of the wall, but with his tail erect.
l walked home musing on the curious
means of defense which nature has bes-
towed on some Of her subjects. Dogs
may delight to bark and bite" in their
conflicts with their enemies; bears and
lions may grOwl and fight" in self-defense
but here is a creature which goes on its
way peacefully, for even the mongrel
cur of the hunter of 'pelts" knows better
than to come to close quarters with a foe
which possesses the power of emitting one
of the most powerful odors known in the
world. And assuredly the animal seems
conscious of it's means of protection Ii
acts with such provoking eoolness. There
appears TO be perfect control over the DOW
er of emitting the nauseous fluid from the
glands which secrete it. for we have II
on excellent authority the skunk when
taken young can be easily trained and
makes a clearly, Interesting and inteli-
gent pet. All the Mustelidae are noted for
their unpleasant smell-otters, badgers
martens, Weasels, and skunks-but out of
the whole number, the last-named is the
only one which can actively use il as n
means of defense.
We are accustomed to connect defense
among animals with biting, scratching
singing and the like, and consequently
are inclined to let slip some of the in
teresung instances in which other means
are used. The toad, when suddenly seized
emtts a yellowish fluid which is acrid
enough 70 cause irritation of a delicate
skin. This, like the fluid of the skunk
IS under the control of the animal. for
i had tame toad for several years which
would hop from the writing table to my
OutStretched hand and sit there quietly
until / placed ii down again Cuttlefsh
possess an inS-bag from which the ceph-
alQpod elects dark fluid which effectu-
ANY cOnceals II from any disturber of its
peace that inVades its rocky retreat
Not only odor but taste, is called in as
q means OF protection. It is wen known
that some caterpillars are so nauseous
to the taste that insect ivorous birds even
viii not eat them. And one of the sire 10
est facts is that these caerpillars are NOT
only brightly and atractivelY scolored
IN their larval state, but also in the per-
feet form.
Two mammals are provided with a
strange means of protection-the porcu-
pine and the hedgehog The former is
clothed with hairs some of which are
thickened and heightened into the porcu-
pa a- -
A supposition formerly held Was fbat ~
creature had the power of 'ejccting these
spines, like so many arrows at its enemy
but this story must be placed among the
myths. What the pOrcupine does is 10
erect the ,spines, which then stand IN.
not at right angles, but at a slope over
the body, and charge his enemy in that
very un-Spartan like way backwa rris
Dogs are often seriously Injured in this
way.
The hedgehog to which Callahan com
pares Prospero's spirits. ana LADY Anne
the Duke of GlouceSter-the hedge-r,is
of Macbeths Witches-is q tinid Nft3e
European animal about the size Of n
half-srown rabbit. Like the porcupine'
to tail, and at the slightest sign of danger
IT rolls itself in a ball. Violence will
scarcely make st open itself out. but IL
water Is poured upon il, the animal nm
COILS Immediately Few dogs care to at
tack hedgehog, for the spines pricl,
like needles The armor is purely defen-
sive and not an offensive provision.
ANY one who has handled q hawk or
other member of the falcon family knows
how well bills and claws can be use5
Even the sparrow-that irrepressible En-
glsh immigrant--Will bite and scratch in
an incredible way when caught / have
often watched the swan. especially ri
breeding time, ana have been struck