Raccoon 1023 



reckless agility of Marten and Squirrel, the Coon travels, hunts, 

 and feeds almost exclusively on the ground. 



It may occasionally rob the nest of woodpecker, Squirrel, food 

 or other tree-dweller, but such must not be considered its 

 normal habit of life — by far the greatest bulk of its food is taken 

 on or near the ground. 



It is quite omnivorous. Frogs, fish, flesh, fowl, eggs, 

 reptiles, insects, shell-fish, fruit, nuts, grain, vegetables, and 

 sweets are acceptable fare with the Coon; not equally so, but 

 all welcome at all times. 



In a wild state, the summer-long main support of the Coon 

 is frogs. In catching them by night it is singularly expert, and 

 when the frog takes refuge in the muddy bottom, the Coon, with 

 wonderfully dextrous, tactile fingers, gropes after it. Leaving 

 the enterprise entirely to its paws, its eyes may scan the woods 

 and shores in a vacant way, but its mind is in touch with the 

 finger-tips, and the frog that escapes them must indeed be 

 worthy to live and father a superior race. 



As Merriam says:'" "They overturn stones and catch 

 the crayfish that lurk beneath, and also gather the fresh- 

 water mussels {Unto and Anodon) that live on sandy and 

 muddy bottoms. They also catch and devour the hapless fish 

 that chance to get detained in any of the little pools along- 

 shore, but are unable to dive and pursue their prey under 

 water, like the Otter and Mink." 



Pennant describes" this animal as particularly fond of 

 oysters, and says it "will watch the opening of the shell, dex- 

 trously put in its paw, and tear out the contents; sometimes the 

 oyster suddenly closes, catches the thief, and detains it till 

 drowned by the return of the tide." 



In the Southern States its coat may change to a less sub- 

 stantial style, but its appetite for all nutritious dainties is the 

 same. Audubon and Bachman detail'- its watching of "the 

 soft-shelled turtle, when she is about to deposit her eggs, for 

 which purpose she leaves the water and, crawling on to the 



'"Main. Adir., 1884, pp. 91-2. "Arctic Zool., 1784, Vol. I, p. 70. 



" Quad. N. A., 1849, Vol. II, pp. 76-8. 



