FACTS ABOUT THE RACOON. 81 



however, as you will readily believe, is by no means rare 

 in Kentucky forests, and the inhabitants are not slothful 

 in handling the axe. 



The sun had disappeared about two hours behind the 

 horizon of the Cumberland Mountains, and all the family 

 of the Danielsons were seated before a blazing fire, con- 

 versing on those subjects most likely to interest and 

 amuse people dwelling in a wild region, in the centre of 

 a wooded country. The talk was all about clearings, and 

 cultivated lands, and plantations, and the ravages com- 

 mitted and still being committed by malicious beasts and 

 malignant birds in the poultry-yard ; and the havoc 

 effected in the barley-field and the maize-field by crows 

 and ravens, gray squirrels and racoons. 



"Above all," exclaimed Mr. Danielsori, "the racoons 

 are the most terrible robbers I have ever met with. 

 What gluttons ! What thieves ! The first-fruits of our 

 harvest fall entirely to them, and the first juicy shoots 

 of maize will attract them from a distance of several 

 miles. Woe to them if they come within range of our 

 rifles ! As some compensation for what they have plun- 

 dered, they leave us then their skin, which is very 

 useful as a lining for our garments, and their ilfsh, which 

 makes a capital stew ! In our neighbourhood they abound, 

 and on a night as blight as this a racoon-hunt is a thing 

 not to be despised. We rarely return to the farm with 

 our game-bags empty. It is an amusement, my dear sir, 

 which we will ask you to share with us, if you are so 

 inclined, on the first opportunity." 



"Why not this evening, then?" I replied. " I am not 

 so fatigued, after the excellent supper you have set before 

 me, but that I can accompany you in the chase." 

 ("I) 6 



