se, and which is the chief
source of his unpopularity, while it affords good reasons against
cultivating him as a pet, and mars his attractiveness as game, is by no
means the greatest indignity that can be offered to a nose. It is a
rank, living smell, and has none of the sickening qualities of disease
or putrefaction. Indeed, I think a good smeller will enjoy its most
refined intensity. It approaches the sublime, and makes the nose tingle.
It is tonic and bracing, and, I can readily believe, has rare medicinal
qualities. I do not recommend its use as eye-water, though an old farmer
assures me it has undoubted virtues when thus applied. Hearing, one
night, a disturbance among his hens, he rushed suddenly out to catch the
thief, when Sir Mephitis, taken by surprise, and no doubt much annoyed
at being interrupted, discharged the vials of his wrath full in the
farmer's face, and with such admirable effect that, for a few moments,
he was completely blinded, and powerless to revenge himself upon the
rogue, who embraced the opportunity to make good his escape; but he
declared that afterwards his eyes felt as if purged by fire, and his
sight was much clearer.

The skunk has perfect confidence in the efficacy of his weapon. Late one
March afternoon in my walk, I saw one coming down through a field toward
the highway. I thought I would intercept him and turn him back. I
advanced to within fifteen or twenty yards of him, and, as he did not
check his course, judged it prudent to check mine. On he came toward me,
with the most jaunty and frolicsome air, waving his tail high above his
head and challenging me to the combat. I retreated and he pursued, till
I finally left him master of the field.

VII

THE FOX

It has been many a long day since I heard a fox bark, but in my youth
among the Catskills I often heard the sound, especially of a still
moonlight night in midwinter. Perhaps it was more a cry than a bark, not
continuous like the baying of a dog, but uttered at intervals. One feels
that the creature is trying to bark, but has not yet learned the trick
of it. But it is a wild, weird sound. I would get up any night to hear
it again. I used to listen for it when a boy, standing in front of my
father's house. Presently I would hear one away up on the shoulder of
the mountain, and I imagined I could almost see him sitting there in his
furs upon the illuminated surface and looking down in my direction. As I
listened, may