24 HUNTING DOGS. 



ruse invariably delays even the best of 'coon 

 hounds, as, being at about full speed, they will 

 run on across the log, and if the dogs know their 

 job they will circle out until they again find the 

 trail; but during this momentary bother, the 

 ■coon is not waiting to see what they are going 

 to do about it. He keeps moving and I want 

 to sa}^ that a 'coon is a much swifter traveler 

 than mam^ persons suppose. He delays no time, 

 but keeps everlastingly at it, and it takes a 

 speedy hound to force him up a tree. 



The 'coon may be defined as being a dwarf 

 bear. They have many points in common. The 

 'coon can lie up in his den for weeks at a time 

 during severely cold weather, without food or 

 water. The only difference between the foot 

 prints of the coon and those of the bear is the 

 size. In shape and appearance they are exactly 

 alike. The flesh, when cooked, tastes similar, 

 and not one in a thousand could tell any dif- 

 ference between cooked 'coon and cooked bear, 

 if served in same size pieces. 



By nature the 'coon is a very selfish in- 

 dividual. He deserts Mrs. 'Coon when his chil- 

 dren are a day old and lets her provide for them 

 as best she can. The young 'coons grow rapidly, 

 and at tlie tender age of from six to eight weeks 

 old they begin to accompany their faithful 

 mother in search of food. Fishes, birds, rabbits, 



