THE TURTLES OF SAND-IvEY ISLAJsTD. 207 



it soon turned it over on its back, dexterously avoid- 

 ing all the turtle's attempts to bite.* 



The " snapping turtle '' was now at the mercy of 

 the raccoon, who was about to enjoy it at his leisure, 

 when Downing took up his double-barrelled gun, 

 which he had brought with him, and we walked from 

 the shelter behind which we had been concealed. 

 Directly he saw us, and heard Downing's voice, th« 

 raccoon jumped up a tree and was soon at the top. 

 Unfortunately, however, for him, it was not lofty 

 enough, and when Downing sighted him among the 

 foliage, he handed me the weapon to shoot " the vil- 

 lain," as he called him. I fired, and down fell the 

 raccoon a few feet from the turtle, which lay strug- 

 gling on its back. The raccoon was an old male with 

 a splendid fur, which afterwards made me a magni- 

 ficent hunting-cap, care being taken to preserve the 

 tail, to hang down behind. 



This diversion of our sport having come to an end, 

 we returned to our turtle-fishing; and when the time 

 arrived for our return to Fort Imperial, the waters 

 of Lake Worth had yielded up to us seventeen fine 

 turtles, including that which was caught by the 

 raccoon. One of Downing's men, driving a Florida 

 mustang in a light cart, took the fish and ourselves 



* Not bad, M. Revoil. It reminds one of the story of the rat 



■who emptied a flask of Florence oil, for the benefit of himself 



and his companions, by the aid of the same "caudal apiiendage." — 

 Trans. 



