SKUNK, Mephitis, a genus of quadrupeds of 1116 weasel family (innstelithr), hut departing very considerably from the typical characters of that family, and approaching to the badgers and gluttons in general appearance, in habits, in the lengthened claws of the fore-feet. in the plantigrade hind-feet, and in some of the teeth. There are six incisors and two canine teeth in each jaw:eight molars in the upper, and ten in the lower; the teeth generally resemble those of the polecat. Skunks depend very much for defense against enemies on an excessively fetid fluid, which is secreted by glands near the anus; and when assailed, they turn the rump toward the assailant, elevate the tail, and discharge this fluid with considerable force. The odor proceeding from it, even when a dead skunk has been flung into an inclosure, has been known to cause nausea to the inmates of an apartment 7 with closed windows at the distance of 100 yards. So confident does the skunk seem of the efficacy of its peculiar mode of defense, that it permits itself to be approached till it is just on the point of being seized, which, however, is only attempted by the inexperienced, when the battery is discharged. It is
almost impossible to remove the odor from clothes. Dogs flee at. once, and rub their.
noses on the ground till they bleed. Dogs that are aware of the skunk's powers, how ever, kill it by leaping upon it suddenly, and in such a way that they are not to danger. There is much uncertainty concerning the species of skunk, as the colors vary considerably even in the same species; but there is no doubt of the existence of a number of species. They are found only in America, ;where they are very widely dis tributed from Hudson's bay to the strait of Magellan. The COMMON SKUNK (if. Ameni carat or sattian.$) is about the size of a eat, generally black or blackish brown, with white streaks along the back. It inhabits burrows which it makes in the earth, feeds on niice, frogs, etc., and also on insects and fruits; and sometimes enters houses to plunder store rooms, where, if it is suddenly alarmed, everything is tainted with an intolerable odor. White streaks on the back, one or more, are very characteristic of this genus.