Racoon-Hunting. 67 



" The tree began to crack, and slowly leaning to one 

 side, the heavy mass swung rustling through the air, and 

 fell to the earth with a crash. It was not one coon that 

 was surprised here, but three, one of which, more crafty 

 than the rest, leaped from the top while the tree was stag- 

 gering. The other two stuck to the hollow of a branch., 

 from which they were soon driven by one of the dogs. 

 Tyke and Lion having nosed the cunning old one, scam- 

 pered after him. He is brought to bay, and a rifle bullet 

 is sent through his head. The other two are secured 

 after a desperate conflict, and the hunters with their bags 

 full, return to the cabin." 



While resident in Kentucky, Audubon was visited by 

 the eccentric naturalist, Rafmesque, whose manner of 

 life, dress, and oddities of conduct appear to have 

 greatly amused even one so little attentive to formalities 

 as the ornithologist. The stranger reached the banks of 

 the Ohio in a boat, and carrying on his back a bundle of 

 plants which resembled dried clover. He accidentally 

 addressed Audubon, and asked where the naturalist 

 lived. Audubon introduced himself, and was handed a 

 letter of introduction by the stranger, in which the writer 

 begged to recommend "an odd fish," which might not 

 have been described in published treatises. Audubon 

 innocently asked where the odd fish was, which led to a 

 pleasant explanation and a complete understanding be- 

 tween the two naturalists. 



" I presented my learned guest to my family," writes 

 Audubon, " and was ordering a servant to go to the boat 

 for my friend's luggage, when he told me he had none 

 but what he brought on his back. He then loosened the 

 pack of weeds which had first drawn my attention. The 

 naturalist pulled off his shoes, and while engaged in draw- 

 ing his stockings down to hide the holes in his heels, he 

 explained that his apparel had suffered from his journey.' 



