Page:Babyhood of Wild Beasts.djvu/131

Rh overtake me. We used to walk through the woods to a large meadow that abounded in grass-hoppers. Here Meph would fairly revel in his food and it was rich sport to watch his manœuvres. When a grasshopper jumped, he jumped, and I have seen him with as many as three in his mouth and two under his fore-paws at a time. He would eat so much that his over-distended little belly would drag upon the ground; and when so full he could eat no more, he would still catch and slay them. When so small he could scarcely toddle about, he never hesitated to tackle the large powerful beetle known as the 'horned bug,' and got many smart nips for his audacity. He was such a courageous little fellow it wasn't long before he learned to handle them with impunity, and it was very amusing to see him kill one. Ere many weeks he ventured to catch a mouse and the ferocity displayed in its destruction was truly astonishing. He devoured the entire body of his victim and growled and stamped his feet if any one came near before his repast was over."

The Skunk rarely uses its voice, although a baby Skunk gave Thoreau quite a severe talking