94 



MAMMALIA. 



is soon tracked to the tree, in some hole of which he has retired for 

 the day. If the tree is too large to be easily felled, a trap set at its 

 foot, and baited with a bit of toasted cod-fish or an ear of corn, is 

 pretty sure to secure him before the next morning. 



It is unusual to find a Raccoon alone, for they commonly live and 

 travel in small companies, consisting of the several members of a 

 single family. They do not return to the same nest every morning, 

 but often make little excursions in various directions, being gone 

 several days at a time, and taking refuge, about daylight, in any 

 convenient aboreal shelter. Though preferring a hollow limb high 

 up on some giant elm, ash, or basswood, they will put up with almost 

 any kind of a hollow trunk. I have known them to spend the day 

 in old stubs, in hollow logs, and even in the poor shelter afforded by 

 the angle where a falling tree had lodged in a crotch. 



In tracking Raccoons upon the crust I have sometimes observed a 

 family to separate and go in different directions, spending the day in 

 different trees, to come together again on the night following. At 

 this season (before there is any bare ground) they have considerable 

 difficulty in procuring sufficient food. 



As already stated, the Raccoon makes its home high up in a 

 hollow of some large tree, preferring a dead limb to the trunk itself. 

 It does little in the way of constructing a nest, and from four to six 

 young are commonly born at a time — generally early in April in this 

 region. The young remain with the mother about a year. 



The flesh of young 'Coons is very fair eating, but that of the adult 

 animals is tough and rank, and suggests the meat of old Woodchucks. 



More than an hundred years ago Thomas Pennant wrote, in his 

 quaint style, that the Raccoon was " an animal easily made tame, 

 very good-natured and sportive, but as unlucky as a monkey, almost 

 always in motion; very inquisitive, examining everything with its 

 paws; makes use of them as hands: sits up to eat: is extremely fond 

 of sweet things, and strong liquors, and will get excessively drunk: 

 has all the cunning of a fox: very destructive to poultry; but will eat 



