DESCRIPTION.
The physiognomy of the Pekan is very different from that of the Martin. When the latter
is threatened, its features resemble those of an enraged cat, but the expression of the Pekan’s
countenance approaches to that of a dog, although the apparent obliquity of its eyes give it
a sinister look. The head has a strong, roundish, compact appearance, and contracts suddenly
to form the nose, which terminates rather acutely. The ears, low and semicircular,
are far apart, so as to leave a broad and slightly rounded forehead: they are smaller in
proportion, than the ears of the Pine-martin. The eyes, situated where, the head curves in
to form the nose, appear more oblique than they really are.
The f u r , towards the roots, is fine and downy, and of a grayish or clove-brown colour -
yellowish-white upwards, and blaekish-brown at the tips, with considerable lustre. It is short
on the head, but on the body, particularly on the posterior parts, it is as long, though less fine
than the fur of the Pine-martin. On the head, shoulders, and fore-part of the back, so much
of the white is seen that they are quite hoary, but towards the tail the colour deepens into
blackish-brown. The throat, belly, and legs are brownish-black; the colour is lighter on
the sides. There is a white spot very frequently between the fore-legs or on the throat, and
another between the hind-legs, but these marks are not constant. The tail is clothed with
long black fur. The chin and nose are tipped with brown. The ears, which are covered
with short hairs, are pale anteriorly, dark brown behind, and have whitish margins. The
fo r e -le g s are short and strong. The toes on the fore and hind feet are connected at the
base by a short web, which is covered on both sides with hair. The claws are strong, curved
and sharp.
This animal is nearly twice the ordinary size of the Pine-martin, and has a longer tail 5
and its fur is harsher, and much Lesslvaluable. Its body has the musky odour of the martin,
but rather stronger. Some thousands of Pekans are annually killed in the Hudson’s Bay
countries, but they are less abundant than the pine-martins..
Dimensions.
"Length of head and body . . . 23
„ head measured with a string from the
nose over the forehead to the nape of the neck 6 |
„ tail, including fur , . 1 6
Breadth from the tip of one ear to the tip of the other 7
Height of ear _ . , , _ , j
Length of fore-leg and foot . „ g
,, hihd-leg, foot, and thigh , .1 1
/3, M u s t e l a C a n a d e n s i s , varietas alba. White Pekan.
This variety has the nose and feet brown; the rest of the fur is white. Its
dimensions are the same with those of the common variety.
There is a specimen in the Hudson’s Bay Museum.
m am m a l ia . 55
[19.] 1. M e p h it i s A m e r ic a n a , var. Hudsonica.
The Hudson's Bay Skunk.
Genes. Mephitis. Cuvier.
• Skunk Weesel. Pennant’s Arctic Zool., i., p. 85. Hearne, Journey, p. 377-
Mephitis Americana. Sabine. Franklin's Journ., p. 663. Zoological Mus. No. 68, 69.
Seecawk. Cree Indians.
This animal is prettily ornamented by a full bushy tail, and broad lateral white
stripes, which contrast pleasingly with the white colours of the rest of the body.
Its fur, although long, is coarse, and is but little valued in commerce. The Skunk
is not an uncommon animal in the district it inhabits, which does not, I believe,
extend to the north of latitude 56° or 57°. It exists in the rocky and woody parts
of the country, but is still more frequent in the clumps of wood which skirt the
sandy plains of the Saskatchewan. I have not been able to ascertain the southern
range of this variety of Skunk ; atid, judging from Kalm’s description, there
appears to be a different one in Canada. The Skunk passes its winter in a hole,
seldom stirring abroad, and then only for a short distance. It preys on mice, and
in summer has been observed to feed much on frogs. It has a slow gait, and can be
overtaken without difficulty, for it makes but a poor attempt to escape, putting its
trust apparently in its power of discomfiting its pursuers by the discharge of a
noisome fluid. This fluid, which is of a deep yellow colour, and is Contained in a
small bag placed at the root of the tail, emits one of the most powerful stenches in
nature; and so durable, that the spot where a Skunk has been killed will retain the
taint for many days. Mr. Graham says, that he knew several Indians who lost
their eye-sight in consequence of inflammation, produced by this fluid having been
thrown into them by the animal, which has the power of ejecting it to the distance of
upwards of four feet. I have known a dead Skunk, thrown over the stockades of a
trading post, produce instant nausea in several women in a house with closed doors
upwards of a hundred yards distant. The odour has some resemblance to that of
garlic, although much more disagreeable. One may, however, soon become
familiarised with i t : for, notwithstanding the disgust it produces at first, I have
managed to skin a couple of recent specimens by reeurring to the task at intervals.
When care is taken not to soil the carcase with any of the strong-smelling fluid,