Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-05


/ pain, nausea or embarrassment to the
foe. Among these are included the
/ skunk. the llama, various poisonous
snakes, certain birds, toads and frogs,
and a larger variety Of insects and
their larvae.
This very timely subject has recently
attracted the attention Of two we'll
known European writer's on scientific
subjects, both members of belltgerent
nations-.Mr. Henri Coupini. OF France,
| and DR.. o. Damn, whose somewhat
startling name is familiar and respect
| ed in Germany.
The most offensive of all such ami
mails among animals is undoubtedly
the ordinary skunk Of North America.
! The beautiful little animal, whose fur
has become so valuable in recent years
that attempts are now made with some
success to rear it in state OF quasi
domeStication, secrets powerfully
malodorous fluid in certain glands
which open in the lower intestine and
are known as anal glands. Unhappy the
meddlesome dog whose sensitive nos
unbearabie stencil, while as for unwlt-
ting men who have been tempted to
follow some pretty black-and-Wh1te
kitten-l like creature in the woods, they
find too late that all the perfume or
Arabia cannot sweeten either their
clothes or their persons. In fact. the
scent is exceedingly persistent as well
as nauseously repellent, and 1t is said
that clothes which have been touched
hy it must be buried in the earth for
DAYS or weeks before being again wear
able. The behavior of the animal
makes it the more dangerous. since it
is said to walk slowly away when fol-
lowed without exhibiting any sign OF
fear. But when the follower has APP
preached near enough it suddenly lifts
its tail and launches its odious and
odorous secretion with deadly effect.
The distance to which the fluid can be
elected is variously estimated at from
2 to c yards.
The South American llama has the
highly unpleasant habit of unexpected
" "spitting" at unSuSpecting visitors
or enemies. While the saliva mixed
with food thus violently elected into
the face and eyes of the unwelcome
visitor is not harmful, it is disgusting
and surprising. Some water fowl nave
manners as bad as those of the llama,
since they spew forth at the invader OF
their nests the foul-smelling contents
of their crops. This is particularly
true of the stormy petrol and the alba
\ Oy1
to the sailor. Other sea birds are said
TO drop excrement on an enemy APP
preaching from below. Most danger
Gus of all the "spitters," of course, are
certain snakes, who eject poison from
Glands in the mouth. 1t was formerly
doubted that such was the fact, but
c2reful investigation has recently es-
tabiished it's truth. This was proved
by Jameson in the case of the Egyptian
hooded snake and of the Spedor haze
machetes, and by Hobley of the Eaja
;igricoll1. All three snakes shoot out
. stream Of colorless, poisonous fluids
~ enemies who attack them and then
hastily decamp. Apparently they
sucked in air beforehand in order to
enable them to eject the poison spray,
which is said to cause severe infiam-
nation of the mucous membrane, es-
, !.ccially that of the eyes.
| The hedgehog has long been credited
! with the power of shooting it's spines
at an enemy. This, however, is now
proved to be fabulous. However, they
are easily detached. as many an inves-
tication dog has discovered to his sor-
row Modern investigation likewise
discredits the belief that toads can
eject poison from the glands on the
back to a considerable distance. How
ever both frogs and toads have the Of
fensive custom of expelling urine at an
invader. Sometimes there is quite a
said to be expelled even to such dis
| lance as 20 centimetsrs. d
We have referred above to TIM shooting
fish. or marksman fish tToxotes jacu-
lator). of Java. This fish, which 10 only
about 20 centimeters long tabout
inches). is often used as an ornament
for a house aquarium for the sake of its
interesting accomplishment. In Its ma
tive streams 1t finds it's prey in fies or
other insects lowering near the banks.
1t fills its mouth with water. which Is
then elected by a sudden contraction OF
the gills with great precision in the d.
rection of the coveted prey. Struck by
the sudden douche the latter is as help
less as a small boy under the Jet OF
fire hose It falls into the water and
is quickly snapped up by the expert
sharpshooter, which is said to be capa-