Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-01
A DEN OF YOUNG SKUNKs
(By Ernest Harold Bayne.)

skunk is lodged by most of our young nature-students. They are in the habit of referring to him in a familiar way as "Sir Mephitis,'' but as for any close study of his private affairs, they prefer to leave that to some one with less discretion, Well, my own experi- ence has been that except when it is wounded or very badly frightened, there are many more disagreeable ami mals to study than the common Amer ican skunk. To be sure, when he does undertake to be nasty, he can humtl- fate an enemy to the last degree; but as a rule such humiliation is deserv- ed. Young skunks are often rash, I admit, and go around with chip on their shoulders, so to speak; but an old skunk, though fully conscious of it's power, seldom deliberately wastes its ammunition. Of all the skunks I have had personal dealings with, have never known one to fire without provocation. I thought had met with an exception on one occasion, but on examination found that the skunk had had forefoot cut off in trap had had a forefoot cut off in trap, cause enough, in my opinion, for any hostile act.
 Tn the early part of last May, call ed at skunk burrow where I was pretty well known, and, as fiatter myself, pretty well liked, since I was in the habit of carrying around dain- ties in the way of raw beef, or chick en now and then, when T. wished to coax the inmates within range of camera hidden in the bushes nearby. On this occasion fairly held my breath with delight, when beheld just inside the burrow, several baby skunks, two or three days old, tug ging away at their mother, who lay on her side that theS might have every opportunity. Whether she was dozing or whether she was regarding her infants with maternal admiration, do not know, for her head was hid den in the darkness, but her tail was in full view, and as I came nearer I saw it raised slowly over her back with sort of "clear the decks for ac- tion'' movement, which was very i'm pressive, since was well within range of the guns. For be 1t known to any who know it not already, that a sslunk's tail, so far from being used as A4CdAS Ol AAASAu6 SAS ACAGASARSs 4AA4OS Is always held carefully up, out of the way, when the animal goes into action. The fluid itself, which is secreted by two glands about the size of hickory nuts, one on each side of the tail, is ex- pelled in two fine streams through two nipples, with which the glands are pro- vided. I saw that any sudden move ment on my part might be misunder- stood by the anxious mother, and, as I was particularly anxious to avoid any misunderstanding in this case, l sat quietly down and waited. Gradually the expressive tail was lowered, and I began to speak in my most soothing tones. knew that the animal would recognize the sound of my voice, and I hoped that this would rid her of any fear she might have at my approach. My hopes were justified, for in a few minutes was kneeling at the mouth of the burrow, and the mother skunk, who had raised her head as though to make sure there was no mistake, sniffed at me over her shoulder with seeming indifference. Then she laid her head down again, and I made so bold as to touch her fur with my hand. In an instant the tail flew up- ward, and felt that the supreme mo- ment had come. It was too late eith- CT to draw back or to dodge, and the question whether I was to remain, an honored guest, or retire in discomfort and confusion, was to be decided with in five seconds.
 Hello, old lady," I said, in the tone she had always heard me use, and at the same time stroked her fur very gently. The effect was reassurin&. Very slowly the tail was lowered to the ground, and as continued to stroke the fur, the animal stretched herself with an unmistakable air of content ment. Now for the next step. Gently l worked my hand forward, until I could grasp one of the babies, and gent ly loosened his hold on his mother. and drew him from the burrow. Care fully arose to my feet, and once clear of the mouth of the burrow. I set off home, at rather immoderate4pace to photograph the infant skunk, and to make notes of him at my leisure
 Within an hour I returned to the burrow, and by this time the little skunk was hungry and giving vent to strange, rather shrill, vibratory SdAC0hC' udu uU uCBlTG 10 TGmDT Providence again so soon, so I set the little fellow on the ground near the den and, retiring to respectful distance, awaited developments. The cries of the baby increased when he found him. self on the cold ground, and in q mo- ment the weasel-l like head of the moth- CT appeared at the entrance of the bur row. She shifted right and left, and then came out to look for the crying infant. She soon saw him, and, ad- Vancing with her peculiar waddling gait, picked him up by the skin of his neck with her teeth, and backed into the burrow with him.
 The next time visited the den, [ found the little family much further from the opening, and it was with some difficulty that I succeeded in get ting hold of one of the children. When did get one out placed him at some distance from the entrance, and, in- stead of going away, IS remained near the hole until the mother came forth to find him. Then was my opportunity,
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