MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 



141 



leans against an adjacent tree and, holding the food between 

 the hind paws, helps himself with the hands in a most busi- 

 ness-like manner. A decided preference is shown for sweet 

 food and corn bread is much preferred to wheaten. Potatoes 

 when cooked are eaten with reluctance, but are skillfully 

 pealed and broken into morsels without the assistance of the 

 teeth. Green corn is disposed of with an instinctive and ac- 

 complished ease. Eggs are devoured with an eagerness ap- 

 proaching excitement. A slight crack is made with the teeth 

 which is enlarged at one point with the claws and the contents 

 lapped up as they exude. A boiled egg is a conundrum not 

 readily solved and only understood when the yelk is reached. 

 A pet raccoon was chained in my doorway for weeks till the 

 neighboring chickens lost all fear of the intruder and partook 

 freely of the crumbs which fell from his table. Only after 



FIG. 11. The Raccoon at Dinner. 



