^ StarUflJ)t ^vaatHs 9i 



ing everything to the brook and washing 

 it before eating. 



It was a very pretty face that was 

 mirrored by the moonlight in the little 

 brook. Cunning and roguishness, and 

 perhaps a bit of the bear's drollery were 

 its principal traits. About the end of the 

 nose was a white ring, and black rings 

 around each eye. His tail was also ringed 

 for nearly its entire length. There is but 

 one other North American animal who 

 enjoys this distinction of a ringed tail, and 

 that is the civet-cat of the Southwest. 



Presently the starlight that fell across 

 the raccoon's shoulders showed him a 

 small moving object in the water. 

 Quickly and cautiously his paw went 

 down, and in another second a half-pound 

 sucker was flopping in the grass. 



Mr. Coon broke the back of his catch 

 at a single bite and then leisurely ate his 



