436 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN TEE FAR WEST. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



THE RACCOON, OPOSSUM, AND SQUIRREL FAMILIES. 



The Raccoon, Opossum, and Squii'rcl Families. — Number of Species.— 

 How Hunted.— Two Negroes and a Coon Stew.— Best Way of Shoot- 

 ing Squirrels. 



Among the smaller game which often afford pleasant 

 sport to the lovers of the gun are the above animals, espe- 

 cially when pursued with dogs; as they frequently give 

 one an exciting run, and the coon struggles bravely against 

 its canine foes when captured. The first two arc hunted 



TUB 11AOUOON. 



principally at night, as they are nocturnal in habits, and are 

 generally killed amidst the leafy retreats of trees and shrub- 

 bery, where they take refuge. I have seen coon - hunts 

 which were scenes of excitement and laughter, and which 

 produced more ludicrous situations and mirth -provoking 

 incidents than any other sort of sport I ever witnessed. 



There are two species of raccoon in the West, the Pro- 

 cyon lotor and the Mexican or black-footed raccoon (Pro- 



