Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 457 



almost horizontally from the bank over the river. As our boat ap- 

 proached the fox watched us a moment then turned about and 

 disappeared among the bushes on shore. 



8. RACCOON 

 PROCYON LOTOR (Linnaeus) 



The Raccoon appears to be somewhat common, especially in the 

 large stretch of heavy woodland east of the lake. It also occurs 

 west of the lake as well as north and south of it, as evidenced by 

 its depredations in the cornfields at roasting-ear time, and, later 

 in the year, by the piles of shells it leaves from its feasts on fresh- 

 water mussels, a habit it shares with the muskrat. In the spring 

 of 1901 they were often heard at night a shivering call not unlike 

 that of the screech owl. In January, 1904, one was caught near 

 Monterey and another was taken east of the lake in November. In 

 1906 one was seen on east side, October 30. On September 7, 

 1907, five young Coons about two-thirds grown were got from a 

 tree on the east side. The old ones escaped. Five days later 

 three others were caught. 



Mr. S. S. Chadwick says that the largest coon he ever saw 

 weighed 18 pounds; this was in Pennsylvania. 



In the Delphi Journal was recently noted the capture of a coon 

 near Russiaville, Howard County, Indiana, which weighed 34 

 pounds. 



Raccoon tracks were seen on the south shore of the lake east of 

 the Farrar cottage October 5, 1913. Raccoons are said to be com- 

 mon along the Kankakee. In 1912 their pelts brought $1.50 to 

 $2.00 each. One trapper at Maxinkuckee secured two raccoons in 

 the winter of 1911, two in 1912, and one in 1913. The pelts sold 

 for $1.00 to $2.50 each. Another secured about 12 in 1911-12, 

 worth $1.50 to $2.75 each, 16 in 1912-13, worth $1.50 to $3.00 each, 

 and eight in 1913-14, which he sold at $1.50 to $2.50 each. 



9., WEASEL 



MUSTELA NOVEBORACENSIS (Emmons) 



The Weasel is generally common throughout Indiana. It is not 

 rare about Lake Maxinkuckee, although it is not often seen. 



August 3, 1899, one was found freshly dead at the edge of the 

 lake near Green's pier. An adult male was killed August 19, 1901. 

 on Long Point, where it had taken up a temporary residence under 

 the floor of a tent. Another fine large example was found dead 

 near the railroad, south of the lake, in December, 1904. In the 



