90 Etnnntn of ttje ^vttn 



to call him the little brother to the 

 bear. 



He dens up every autumn and sleeps 

 through the winter, living upon his fat 

 for several months, just as the bear 

 does. 



His gait too, as he shambles along 

 through the woods, reminds one of the 

 movements of a bear, only he is rather 

 more agile and more stealthy. 



Presently he came out into a meadow, 

 where a quiet little brook slipped gently 

 upon its way, winding in and out among 

 the meadow-grass, and about the feet of 

 tall willows. 



This little stream was the favourite 

 haunt of the raccoon, for he is something 

 of a fisherman, and will eat almost any- 

 thing, if it has a fishy smell about it. In 

 fact, his Latin name means the Washer, 

 derived from his peculiar habit of tak- 



