Raccoon 



though of course, as the coon varies his speed the order of his 

 footprints changes also. 



The track of a skunk might be supposed to answer to this 

 description, having as it does the similar heel mark; its small 

 size, however, as well as the fact that its toes are not separated, 

 as in the raccoon's tracks, serves as a distinction between 

 the two. 



The woodchuck's track is really almost the only one that could 

 well be mistaken for that of a raccoon. To distinguish the two 

 one has only to remember that the woodchuck's footprints are 

 shorter, and show the mark of a pretty well defined thumb like 

 that of a squirrel. 



The young raccoons vary from three to six in number, and 

 are born in April or May. At first they are as blind and help- 

 less as young kittens, and remain under the care and protection 

 of their parents for the first season at least. Their crying when 

 they are separated from the old ones is said to resemble that of 

 a human infant under similar circumstances. 



The adults also have a kind of whimpering cry or call which 

 is often heard on moonlight nights. It seems to be of a somewhat 

 variable nature, at times resembling the quavering note of a 

 screech owl or laughing hoot of a barred owl, and again sound- 

 ing like a colt's whinnying. 



This similarity to other sounds of the country renders it hard 

 to identify, and from various circumstances I am inclined to think 

 that it is never to be heard at any great distance. 



On the arrival of cold weather young and old curl themselves 

 up together; occasionally several families will occupy the same 

 hollow tree. In this manner they pass the first and severest part 

 of the winter in a more or less lethargic condition, hardly relaps- 

 ing into such a state of unconsciousness that a few days of 

 warm weather will not tempt some of them out on the snow. 



Back they go again, however, into winter quarters at the 

 advent of the next cold wave, and for the remainder of the sea- 

 son confine themselves to naps of a few days or at most a week's 

 duration. 



By the time spring has fairly taken possession of the woods 

 they are all out again, searching among the sodden leaves and 

 debris left by the last rain of the winter for newly awakened 

 snakes and beetles. It is at this season that they are oftenest 



252 



