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Show 306 MR. o. Y. A P L I N O N T H E [Mar. 20, only once seen a Skunk use its teeth. In this case one fastened on to Jim's flanks, and tbe old dog walked about with it hanging on for half a minute, looking round at it in much astonishment at this unusual and unseemly behaviour-the fact being that he could not get hold of his enemy, which turned with him. The Skunk's teeth are small in proportion to its size of body : a certain class of theorists would probably say that they had become smaller from disuse, the animal having another means of defence. The Skunk seems to be an omnivorous feeder. Its long strong claws are well adapted for digging, and places where they have been scratching are to be seen all about the camp. They probably feed on small mammals, reptiles, and insects as well as roots, and are always credited with robbing hen-roosts. With regard to the distance at which you can smell a Skunk, I cannot give an opinion; but you often smell them when you cannot see them, and just about sun-down tbe smell is a usual and familiar one about the camp ; at night, too, a strong whiff of it as you sit or stroll in the patio is a very common occurrence. At a hundred yards to leeward with the slightest breeze the smell of a discharge would be very pungent. The smell is said to be a good " remedio " for the headache ! The local name for the Skunk is " Zorillo." The Skunk being numerous, despite human persecution, it might be supposed to be prolific ; and from the very meagre evidence I obtained it seems to be so-this evidence is that on the 31st October a female was killed close to the house with 13 young. GRISON (Galictis vittata). This savage and diabolical-looking weasel, known as tbe " Huron," coal-black except on the top of the head, back, and tail (on which parts the hair is grey and longer than the rest of the body), was not uncommon. The line of demarcation between the black of the face and the grey crown is cleanly cut, and gives the animal a curious and most spiteful appearance. Nor do its looks belie it. It is about the size of a medium-sized polecat, and resembles this animal in disposition and habits to some extent. But one of its characteristic habits is that of hunting in company. I have seen three bunting down a nearly dry Canada, and, just before, a friend had seen five together. W h e n staying with a neighbour in February one of his sons trapped a Huron in a box trap baited with an Aperea. W e had some considerable difficulty in transferring him to a small cage, and so far from being timid, he would always come at your fingers with an angry barking squeal, if you put them near the bars of the cage. Moreover, when irritated he emitted one of the strongest and most pungent animal smells I ever experienced. In some respects it was more disgusting than Skunk. The cage was fifty yards or more from the house, out of sight behind the kitchen buildings, and, when it was to windward, it was quite possible when sitting outside the house-door to tell when anyone went to look at the Huron. For this reason it would be difficult |
