cushman] burrowing RACCOONS 393 



about in a bear like manner, indeed resembling his relative the bear 

 in many ways. 



The raccoon, Procyon lotor, ranges in the wooded parts of eastern 

 North America from Canada and the Rockies to Panama with 

 another species along the Pacific coast. 



Burrowing Raccoons 



By L. B. Cushman 



North East, Pa. 



Owing to the scarcity of trees suitable for homes, raccoons here- 

 abouts are occasionally found burrowing in the ground, like wood- 

 chucks. George Baker, our fur dealer, tells me the skins of 

 burrowing coons are inferior in quality of their fur. Why this is 

 so is not clear, unless it be that being out of their natural element 

 and surroundings, they are perhaps never in that pink of condition 

 they would otherwise maintain. 



Adverse circumstances, like disease, tell on the coat of domestic 

 animals, and natiu^ally they would similarly affect wild ones. It is 

 not that conditions in the ground are not as favorable as those of 

 any other place for the production of fine fur. They doubtless are. 

 The fur of the beaver, otter, skunk, mink and other fur-bearing 

 animals with homes in the ground would indicate this. 



The change from a home in a hollow tree to one in the ground 

 would naturally mean a difference in temperature, ventilation, 

 himiidity and often of Ught, So complete a change in surroundings 

 would naturally be expected to lead to results more or less dis- 

 astrous. 



The future outlook for the festive little coon is not bright. The 

 forests are being rapidly cut off, and it is contrary to his nature to 

 be compelled to resort to a hole in the groimd for a home. 



Autumn Portents 



The amber foam creams from the cider flagons. 



Backward the shadow of the ground-hog shrinks, 

 The lanes creak with the laden han^est wagons, 



And the fur thickens on the owl-eyed Ivtix. 

 The himter sees cold mist about the moon. 



And in the bottom-lands, at mom. 

 The print of tiny, thievish, fairy hands 



Where the raccoon last night went stealing com. 



Hervey Allen — in Life. 



