Raccoon 
though of course, as the coon varies his speed the order of his 
footprints changes also. 
The track of a skunk might be supposed to answer to this 
description, having as it does the similar heel mark; its small 
size, however, as well as the fact that its toes are not separated, 
as in the -raccoon’s tracks, serves as a distinction between the 
two. 
The woodchuck’s track is really almost the only one that could 
well be mistaken for that of a raccoon. To distinguish the two 
one has only to remember that the woodchuck’s footprints are 
shorter, and show the mark of a pretty well defined thumb like 
that of a squirrel. 
The young raccoons vary from three to six in number, and 
are born in April or May. At first they are as blind and help- 
less as young kittens, and remain under the care and protection 
of their parents for the first season at least. Their crying when 
they are separated from the old ones is said to resemble that of 
a human infant under similar circumstances. | 
The adults also have a kind of whimpering cry or call which 
is often heard on moonlight nights. It seems to be of a somewhat 
variable nature, at times resembling the quavering note of a 
screech owl or laughing hoot of a barred owl, and again sound- 
ing like a colt’s whinnying. 
This similarity to other sounds of the country renders it hard 
to identify, and from various circumstances I am inclined to think 
that it is never to be heard at any great distance. 
On the arrival of cold weather young and old curl themselves 
up together; occasionally several families will occupy the same 
hollow tree. In this manner they pass the first and severest part 
of the winter in a more or less lethargic condition, hardly relaps- 
ing into such a state of unconsciousness that a few days of 
warm weather will not tempt some of them out on the snow. 
Back they go again, however, into winter quarters at the 
advent of the next cold wave, and for the remainder of the sea- 
son confine themselves to naps of a few days or at most a week’s 
duration. 
By the time spring has fairly taken possession of the woods 
they are all out again, searching among the sodden leaves and 
debris left by the last rain of the winter for newly awakened 
snakes and beetles. It is at this season that they are oftenest 
25a 

