509 



THE RACCOON. 



Tile •Coon' is common and well-known. It occurs 

 generally thiougliont Pennsylvania, from whicli region 

 large numbers of ])elts of this coin-loving animal are 

 annually shipped. Raccoons catch fish, and they feed 

 upon mice, frogs, young birds, birds' eggs, cray-fisli 

 mollusks, turtles and their eggs. They capture large- 

 sized insects; nuts, fruits and poultry are dainty mor- 

 sels for these animals which are more destructive to 

 corn than any other of the farmer's possessions. 



THE OTTER. 



This wary and valuable fur-bearing animal, so de- 

 structive to fish, is found about streams and hikes in 

 nearly every section of the State, but it is nowhere 

 abundant and may, not improperly, be classed among 

 tlie species termed rare. Individuals of this species 

 are, of course, much cftener found about streams and 

 lakes or old splash dams in the mountains and sparse- 

 ly-settled districts than elsewhere in Pennsylvania. 

 Two or three years ago two were captuied along the 

 Brandywine Creek, near Chadd's Ford, Delaware 

 county. 



The Otter loves Brook Trout and he delights to make 

 his home in localities where this toothsome fo'od is 

 plentiful and readily obtained without continued in 

 terference on the part of man, his most deadly foe. 



THE VIRGINIA DEER. 



The Virginia Deer is found in a wild state in many 

 regions of Pennsylvania. 



In the counties of Cleartield. Potter. Pike, Elk, Clin 

 ton, Fulton, Franklin. Adams, Tioga aud Huntingdon, 

 the species is said to bo of frequent occurrence. In 



