252 Handbook of Nature-Study 



It is a funny sight to watch a coon arrange itself for a nap, on a branch 

 or in the fork of a tree, it adapts its fat body to the unevenness of the bed 

 with apparent comfort ; it then tucks its nose down between its paws and 

 curls its tail about itself, making a huge, furry ball. In all probability, 

 the rings of gray and black on the tail, serve as protective color to the 

 animal sleeping in a tree during the daytime, when sunshine and shadow 

 glance down between the leaves with ever-changing light. The coon 

 spends much of its days asleep in some such situation, and comes forth at 

 night to seek its food. 



In the fall, the cocn lays on fat enough to last it during its winter sleep. 

 Usually several inhabit the same nest in winter, lying curled up together 

 in a hollow tree, and remaining dormant all winter except when awakened 

 by the warmth of a thaw. They then may come forth to see what is 

 happening, but return shortly to wait until March or April; then they 

 issue to hunt for the scant food, and are so lean and weak that they fall 

 easy prey to their enemies. 



The young are born in April and May; there are from three to six in a 

 litter; they are blind and helpless at first, and are cared for carefully 

 by their parents, the family remaining together for a year, until the young 

 are fully grown. If removed from their parents the young ones cry 

 pitifully, almost like babies. The cry or whistle of the fully grown coon 

 is anything but a happy sound, and is quite impossible to describe. I 

 have been awakened by it many a night in camp, and it always sounded 

 strange, taking on each time new quavers and whimperings. As a cry, 

 it is first cousin to that of the screech-owl. 



The stories of pet coons are many. I knew one which, chained in a 

 yard, would lie curled up near its post looking like an innocent stone 

 except for one eye kept watchfully open. Soon a hen, filled with curiosity 

 would come warily near, looking longingly at remains of food in the pan ; 

 the coon made no move until the disarmed biddy came close to the pan. 

 Then, there was a scramble and a squawk and with astonishing celerity 

 he would wring her neck and strip off her feathers. Another pet coon 

 was allowed to range over the house at will, and finally had to be sent 

 away because he had learned to open every door in the house, including 

 cupboard doors, and could also open boxes and drawers left unlocked; 

 and I have always believed he could have learned to unlock drawers if he 

 had been given the key. All coons are very curious, and one way of 

 trapping them is to suspend above the trap a bit of bright tin; in solving 

 this glittering mystery, traps are forgotten. 



LESSON LXI 



THE RACCOON 



Leading thought The raccoon lives in hollow trees or caves along 

 the banks of streams. It sleeps during the day and seeks its food at 

 night. It sleeps during the winter. 



Method If there are raccoons in the vicinity, ask the older boys to 

 look for their tracks rear the streams and to describe them very care- 

 fully to the class. The ideal method of studying the animal, is to 

 have a pet coon where the children may watch at leisure its enter- 

 taining and funny performances. If this is impossible, then follow th e 



