See a skunk in the Corner road, which I follow sixty rods or more. Out now about 4 p. m., — partly because it is a dark, foul day.
It is a slender black (and white) animal, with its back remarkably arched, standing high behind and carrying its head low; runs, even when undisturbed, with singular teeter or undulation, like the walking of a Chinese lady. Very slow; I hardly have to run to keep up with it.
It has a long tail, which it regularly erects when I come too near and prepares to discharge its liquid. It is white at the end of the tail, and the hind head and a line on the front of the face, — the rest black, except the flesh-colored nose (and I think feet).
It tries repeatedly to get into the wall, and does not show much cunning. Finally it steers apparently, for an old skunk or wood-chuck hole under a wall four rods off, and gets into it, — or under the wall, at least, — for it is stopped up, — and there I view at leisure close to.
It has a remarkably long, narrow, pointed head and snout, which enable it to make those deep narrow holes in the earth by which it probes for insects. Its eyes have an innocent, childlike, bluish-black expression.
It makes a singular loud patting sound repeatedly, on the frozen ground under the wall, undoubtedly with its fore feet (I saw only the upper part of the animal), which reminds me of what I have heard about your stopping and stamping in order to stop the skunk. Probably it has to do with its getting its food, — patting the earth to get the insects or worms. Though why it does so now I know not.
Its track is small, round, showing the nails, a little less than an inch in diameter, alternate five or six inches by two or two and a half, sometimes two feet together.
I have no doubt they have begun to probe already where the ground permits, — or as far as it does. But what have they eat all winter?
It has a long tail, which it regularly erects when I come too near and prepares to discharge its liquid. It is white at the end of the tail, and the hind head and a line on the front of the face, — the rest black, except the flesh-colored nose (and I think feet).
It tries repeatedly to get into the wall, and does not show much cunning. Finally it steers apparently, for an old skunk or wood-chuck hole under a wall four rods off, and gets into it, — or under the wall, at least, — for it is stopped up, — and there I view at leisure close to.
It has a remarkably long, narrow, pointed head and snout, which enable it to make those deep narrow holes in the earth by which it probes for insects. Its eyes have an innocent, childlike, bluish-black expression.
It makes a singular loud patting sound repeatedly, on the frozen ground under the wall, undoubtedly with its fore feet (I saw only the upper part of the animal), which reminds me of what I have heard about your stopping and stamping in order to stop the skunk. Probably it has to do with its getting its food, — patting the earth to get the insects or worms. Though why it does so now I know not.
Its track is small, round, showing the nails, a little less than an inch in diameter, alternate five or six inches by two or two and a half, sometimes two feet together.
There is something pathetic in such a sight, — next to seeing one of the human aborigines of the country.
I respect the skunk
as a human being in a
very humble sphere.
I have no doubt they have begun to probe already where the ground permits, — or as far as it does. But what have they eat all winter?
H. D. Thoreau, Journal, March 10, 1854
I have no doubt they have begun to probe already where the ground permits. See February 24, 1857 ("I have seen the probings of skunks for a week or more. “); February 26, 1860 ("They appear to come out commonly in the warmer weather in the latter part of February.”) See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, Signs of the Spring; Skunks Active
March 10. See A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau March 10
I have no doubt they have begun to probe already where the ground permits. See February 24, 1857 ("I have seen the probings of skunks for a week or more. “); February 26, 1860 ("They appear to come out commonly in the warmer weather in the latter part of February.”) See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, Signs of the Spring; Skunks Active
March 10. See A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau March 10
A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, A skunk in the Corner Road.
A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau
"A book, each page written in its own season,
out-of-doors, in its own locality."
~edited, assembled and rewritten by zphx © 2009-2024
tinyurl.com/hdt-540310
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