200 LAWSON'S HISTORY 



mark. When lie intends to make a prey of these 

 fish, he goes to a marsh, where, standing on the 

 land, he lets his tail hang in the water. This the 

 crab takes for a bait, and fastens his claws therein, 

 which as soon as the raccoon percejves, he of a sud- 

 den springs forward a considerable way, on the 

 land, and brings the crab along with him. As 

 soon as the fish finds himself out of his element, he 

 presently lets go his hold, and then the raccoon 

 encounters him, by getting him crosswise in his 

 mouth, and devours him. There is a sort of small, 

 land crab, which we call a fiddler, that runs into 

 a hole when any thing pursues him. This crab 

 the raccoon takes by putting his fore-foot in the 

 hole and pulling him out. With a tame raccoon, 

 this sport is very diverting. The chief of his other 

 food is all sorts of wild fruits, green corn, and 

 such as the bear delights in. This and the pos- 

 sum are much of a bigness. The fur makes good 

 hats and linings. The skin dresssed makes fine 

 womens' shoes. 



The minx is an animal much like the English 

 fillinxart or polcat. He is long, slender and every 

 way shaped like him. His haunts are chiefly in 

 the marshes, by the sea side and salt waters, where 

 he lives on fish, fowl, mice, and insects. They 

 are bold thieves, and will steal anything from you 

 in the night, when .asleep, as I can tell by expe- 

 rience ; for one winter, by misfortune, I ran my 

 vessel aground, and went often to the banks to 

 kill wild fowl, which we did a great many. One 



