586 Home Nature-Study Course. 



and the Coati (see American Animals). For autobiography material consult "Wild 

 Neighbors," by Ingersoll, and "Little People of the Sycamore," by Roberts, and 

 "Familiar Life of Field and Forest," Mathews. The story should tell the time of 

 year when the little ones are born and that they are blind at first. It should also 

 tell the hibernating habits of the animal. The raccoon is a general feeder and takes 

 nuts, cherries, berries, grapes, corn, insects, snakes, birds and birds' eggs, clams, 

 crayfish and fish. In the South it haunts the waters edge on the bayous hunting 

 for oysters and fish. One of the queerest things about the raccoon is the way it 

 washes its meat, sousing it up and down in water until it is quite flabby before 

 eating it. It will hold a piece of meat or other food between its hind feet and 

 daintily pick off tid-bits with its front feet, using them exactly like hands. If any 

 one in the school has a pet coon there will be some interesting stories to be told, 

 as it makes the most mischievous pet that our forests afford. 



LESSON XLVL 



RACCOON TRACKS. 



Purpose. — To make the pupils observant of tracks in the snow or 

 in the mud of banks of streams. 



Observations. — 



1. In what way do raccoons tracks differ from those of fox, dog 

 or cat? 



2. How many toe prints are there? 



3. Where are the tracks found? 



4. What is the size of the track? The length and breadth? 



5. Does the heel track always show? If not why? 



6. How far are the foot prints apart? 



7. Can you see the tracks of all four feet? 



8. Are the tracks in a straight line, like those of the cat? 



Facts for teacher. — When the "coon" is walking it makes a very long track, 

 showing five toe prints and a heel. The tracks are likely to be found during the 

 first thawing days of winter along some brook, in some ravine, or along borders of 

 swamps and often following the path made by cattle. The full length track is 

 about two inches long; as the coon puts the hind foot in the track made by the 

 front foot of the same side, one ordinarily sees only the print of the hind feet. 

 The tracks may vary from a half inch to a foot or more apart, depending on how 

 fast the animal is going; when it runs it goes on its toes but when walking sets 

 the heel down. The tracks are not in so straight a line as are those of the cat. 



References. — "American Animals," Stone and Cram; "Wild Neigh- 

 bors," Ingersoll ; " Familiar Life of Field and Forest," Mathews ; " Little 

 People of the Sycamore." Roberts ; " Life of Animals," Ingersoll ; " Mux " 

 in " Roof and Meadow," Sharp ; " Little Brother to the Bear," W. J. Long. 



