Peter Parley's Book of the United States, Geographical Political, and Historical (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1837 edition. Excerpt: ...trees, and a long, strong tail, with which he sometimes hangs himself up, as we hang up a piece of meat. 445. But the most curious thing about this creature, is that the female has under the belly a pouch into which her young ones creep in time of danger. This is a wonderful contrivance, and enables the old opossum to save her little ones from the hawks, owls, and other creatures that attempt to prey upon them. 446. The badger is found in the western country, and is about the size of the raccoon. He resembles the bear in shape, and in many of his habits. He lives partly on flesh, and partly on vegetables. The woodchuck, or Maryland marmot, is well known in all parts of our country. The prairie marmot lives in the western prairies, great numbers sometimes herding together, and forming a sort of republic. 447. The skunk bears some analogy to the weasel tribe, but his chief celebrity arises from his singular mode of defence. He does not bite or scratch, but he sends forth at his enemy a villanous stench, and woe be to him who is near . In other respects, the skunk is a quiet animal enough, though he is too apt to get into the barn, suck the eggs, and eat the chickens. The only animal in Europe that resembles the skunk, is the polecat. 448. There are several other quadrupeds in the United States, which I can but mention;--the otter, that lives in ponds, and often amuses him self with sliding down hill, though without a sled; the beaver, .the most ingenious house-builder among four-footed beasts; the I 1U-i(--Hit, or musquash, a humble imitator of the beaver; the mink, a-long, black fellow, that dwells in ponds; the moles and rats, of which there are several kinds. All these I must leave to themselves.. l 449. The squirrels cannot be passed..