MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 143 
ceeded we plunged into a swampy and tangled woodland, to the 
writer, at least, of unknown extent. The baying or rather 
yelping of the dogs in various directions kept us informed that 
‘Tige” and ‘‘Zep,” etc., were at their work. Suddenly the 
conclave of hunters assembled violently excited. ‘Zep hab 
struck fresh ’coon trail, shore,” said one. ‘“‘Go way, dar, 
Sandy,” was the reply, ‘‘dat dog never let on datar way cep’en 
he’s found ’possum tracks.”» In a sage discussion, involving - 
the theory and practice of dog-education, the time was occupied 
until we had all assembled about the base of a tall tree which 
seemed the object of the most excited interest of the mongrel 
called ‘‘Zep.” Our lights brilliantly illuminated the base and 
lower branches which, however. cast deep and deceptive 
shadows upon the spire of the noble tree. Boys and dogs were 
equally excited, and there were proposed and instantly rejected 
@ variety of expedients for dislodging the unknown animal 
which the possum dog hazarded his reputation in affirming 
still lay concealed among the boughs. The other dogs now 
came up, and some immediately caught the infection and added 
their strangely modulated cries to the din. One, however, 
sniffed wisely at the scent and, shaking his head sadly, stalked 
off to a small sapling, large enough to support nothing heavier 
than a squirrel, and set up a lively opposition, gazing into the 
bare top of the sapling with well-feigned admiration, tearing 
the ground and rending the air with his deep cries. This sage 
conduct was the source of deep gratification to his owner, who 
“‘knowed from the first thar wan’t no ’possum in that thar 
gum.” But at last it was decided that an athletic youth should 
scale the tree with a gun upon his back and beard the animal 
in his retreat. A period of breathless silence followed by a 
deafening report ensued. Something struck the ground witha 
heavy thud and the dogs rushed up to gaze upon—the hero 
who had fired and brought himself, but not his game, to the 
ground. He reported, however, a most mammoth opossum 
clinging to the upper boughs. Candidates fornew honors were 
few, but additional inducements sent another sable youth up 
the tree, and we were rewarded by a flash followed by a suc- 
cession of snarls and spits as a heavy animal crashed earthward 
and landed in the midst of the group of furious dogs. Then 
ensued a scene more easy to imagine than to describe. Dogs 
and boys all eager to beat and tear the life out of the poor ani- 
mal which seemed at first likely to vanquish the former if left 
to themselves. When the dogs had been beaten off the leader 
