Weekly journal-miner., 1915-03-24
SACHET KITTEN BECOMES NEW
 HOUSE PET
ARIZONA INDUSTRY MAY BE DEVELOPED NOW THAT SCIENCE HAS FOUND A WAY.

comparatively unexploited is tht
 sachct kitten. It appears that tho
 kitty is much maligned animal, ac
 cording to Charles B. Cory, curator
 of the museum of zoology at the
 Field Columbian museum of Chicago
 In view of the discovery by science
 of way to remove the scent glands
 of the skunk without in the least af
 fecting the health or happiness of the
 animal, the kitty is likely to become
 a new household pet. For this pur-
 pose, the animals must be caught young. Thus there opens new field
 for the trapper in the Arizona deserts
 and mountains.
 Meek in Disposition.
 "The skunk isn't such a bad animal as some persons would make you be- lieve," declared Mir. Cory. "On the contrary, it is of meek disposition Of course, if you care to persist in teasing it, why, it is more than likely to protect itself. And oh, what pro lection! Child of the Devil'-that is what our French neighbors called the skunk away back in 1636.
 But when not bothered the skunk is the incest pet one could imagine I have often been camping where sev- cral of them would come right up to the cabin door and play around. Of course, I did not annoy them, and
 n return they did not annoy me.
 Science has found a way to remove the scent glands of the skunk without in any way affecting the health or happiness of the animal. If this is lone with the young animal he can be made to become a household pet. Naturally of an affectionate nature he will rival the cat and the dog for your favors. Children can play with him at will. And besides, he will aid greatly in ridding the neighborhood of rats and mice.
 Joins Club in Winter.
 "Skunks usually make their homes n burrows in the ground, although hey are not averse to living under n outbuilding and occasionally in an 3ld hollow stump or log. In very cold weather there is no doubt that they hibernate to more or less ex- tent, but their sleep cannot be very deep or protracted, for on mild winter days l have often seen their fresh l tracks in the snow. Sometimes, sev- cral skunks live in a den in winter, | md 1t Is claimed that four or five are | often found together and sometimes as many as ten. I would seem prob | able that in most cases they are mem bers of one family of the preceding season, although one authority states that as many as fifteen have been found in winter lying in one nest.
 The young are born in April or carly in May and usually number from four to six, rarely more, al- though as many as ten in a litter have been recorded.
 "The flesh of young skunk is very good eating, as l can testify from per sonal experience. It is not unlike chicken and far better than possum or coon. Its taste is particularly agreeable. Enormous numbers ot skunks are trapped annually and their skins sold for furs which in many cases are offered for sale as Alaska sable l don't suppose that many of our women know this Perhaps l am doing an injustice to the fur trade oy saying this, but it is a fact"
 Dr. Merriman to Rescue.
 Dr. Clinton Hart Merriman, also a we'll known naturalist, pays tribute to he skunk as a household pet.
 "These animals, particularly when make very pretty pets,' he 'ays, being attractive in appearance gentle in disposition, interesting in qualities, indeed. They are playful sometimes mischievous, and manifest affection for those who , lave the care of them. q was the master of the cleverest ; ,oung skunk that I have thus far hanced to meet For a name he re- eived the title of his genus, and we ! alled him 'Meph' for short. While z Irving about the country in the per of my professional duties ( e usually slept in my pocket After ' upper 1 commonly took walk and |, e always followed close at my heels. | f I chanced to walk too fast for him V e would 'scold and stamp with his orcfeet and if l persisted in keeping 2 o far ahead would turn about, dis F -usted, and make off in an opposite 8 irection; but Ii 1 stopped and called i'm he would hurry along at short y mbling pace and soon overta5e me. He was particularly fond of .. ldies. I think it was their dress that ] ttracted him. but be this as it may,