Elizabeth McGuigan, age 10, of Lancaster, Penna., or her quest on:

How far can a skunk spray?

Mr. Skunk cannot spray his foul smelling liquid more than a few feet  but the odor from it can be wafted for half a mile. The odor is very unpleasant to be sure, but actual contact with the liquid spray is much worse. It stings the skin, makes the eyes run and may even cause temporary blindness. The victim of this chemical warfare howls with pain.

The little skunk, however, walks off smelling sweet as a rose. He never sprays into the wind and he is always careful to keep the foul smelling stuff off his own coat. He waits until his enemy closes in to attack. The skunk growls and stamps his foot as a warning. If this is disregarded  he swings around, turns up his tail and squirts his enemy full in the face   and the little fella's aim is said to be very good.