Jeff David, aged 9, of Atlanta, Ga for his question:
What is the smell cf the skunk made of?
A skunk can spread his smell far half a mile ‑ if the wind is good. But he doesn't like his smell, any more than you do. He makes sure that his enemy will give him no more trouble. Then he ambles off to sweeter smelling places as fast as possible. He is always very careful to carry none of his special perfume on his handsome coat.
The perfume is a strong, musky fluid. It is made in special glands at the base of the skunk s tail. There are two of these glands. The supply of musk is kept ever ready. When the skunk uses it up, the glands very quickly refill again,
The skunk is a very handsome fellow with a sweet face and thick black and white coat. And for all his repulsive weapon, he is a fair fighter. His weapon, of course, is that smelly juice which he can spray in the face of an enemy. The musky juice not only smells horrible, it stings the eyes, nose and mouth.
Even a Mama skunk, sensitive about her babies, gives fair warning before fouling up the air. When she senses trouble, the growls and stamps her dainty black foot, if she is still worried, she uses her second threat. She rears up her fluffy tail with the end bent over like a plume. This is her last danger signal. If the silly enemy still threatens, he has had fair warning and can expect the worst.
Trouble comes in a rush. Suddenly the tip of her plumy tail straightens up in the air. She swings her tail end around and squirts a fine spray of musk right in her enemy’s face.
The liquid is squirted out as the muscles tighten up around the glands. The skunk can fire a shot from one gland, or from both at once. The first shot is always the strongest. But the skunk can follow it up with four or five lesser shots. That is usually enough to stop the toughest enemy right in his tracks.
The aim is always good. If the foe is within nine feet of the skunk, he gets a fine spray right in the face. Without his smelly weapon, however, the little skunk would soon perish in the wild. He is not a swift runner and he has no other way to defend himself. It is possible to remove his musk glands and take the pretty fellow for a pet. He is friendly and affectionate and will keep a house free of mice. Hut it would be cruel indeed to remove his only weapon and turn him loose in the wild.
The skunk would be amazed to know one fact about his horrible smell. The musky juice has a great ability to penetrate and to hold a smell. The wizards of chemistry have put those qualities to work. Processed and refined, skunk musk is used to hold other smells. Of all things it is used in the manufacture of fine, expensive perfumes: