THE RACCOON; 1^9 



The wolverene is the fur- trapper's greatest foe, and, as may 

 l)e supposed, he has no mercy shown him. The cunning 

 creature, moreover, in spite of his cleverness, sometimes gets 

 caught. Mr. Paul Kane, in one of his journeys across the 

 country, had left a cache composed of logs built together, 

 something like a log-house, but not very closely fitted. 

 Impelled by hunger after a long journey, he and his com- 

 panion on their way back reached their cache, and began 

 throwing off the heavy logs which covered the top and con- 

 cealed it. The Indian, hearing a great disturbance within, 

 called to Mr. Kane to fetch the guns. Just as he got up, a 

 fine fat wolverene jumped out, but was immediately shot 

 down. The creature must have been starved and desperately 

 thin to have squeezed himself through the openings between 

 the logs, and no doubt, impelled by hunger and the smell of 

 the meat inside, had not thought much of a slight squeeze. 

 When, however, he was once in, and had enjoyed a few good 

 meals, he could not get out again, and the idea of starving 

 himself as long as the meat lasted did not appear to. have 

 occurred to him. 



The disappointment to the hungry travellers was very 

 great, as but little food was left, and that was mangled, torn, 

 and tossed about in the dirt by the animal. 



THE RACCOON. 



To obtain a satisfactory sight of the raccoon, we must set 

 out into the forest by torchlight, accompanied by dogs, with 

 fowling-piece in hand. As he remains during the day in 

 some hollow tree, it is rarely Ave can get a good view of him. 

 Even if by chance found on the ground, he ascends the tree so 

 rapidly, that he is stowed away before our rifle can reach the 



