NIGHT HUNTING. 25 



nuts, acorns, berries and green corn are tlie 

 principal dishes on the 'coon family's bill of 

 fare. 



At first the little 'coons stay close to their 

 mother's heels, but thej^ grow more venturesome 

 as they grow older, and soon begin to make little 

 journeys on their own account. This often 

 proves their undoing when dogs are about. Any 

 sort of an old dog can tree or catch on the ground 

 a baby 'coon, but this is an advantage no true 

 sportsman will knowingly take. 



That a mother 'coon Avill even brave death 

 herself to save her babies is evident to one who 

 has studied the habits of the 'coon. When closely 

 pursued by the hounds and she and her young 

 are all compelled to go up the same tree, as soon 

 as the hounds begin to bark fiercely and the 

 hunters arrive and begin to choj) on the tree or 

 to try to shine their eyes, old mother 'coon picks 

 an opening and jumps out of the tree and is 

 usually caught, or run up another tree close by 

 and then caught. But she has again saved her 

 young, as in all likelihood the hunters will not 

 go back to the tree where the little coons are 

 serenely sitting on the leafy boughs, or never 

 think of there being any more coons there. 



There are many reasons why the 'coon hunt 

 is fast becoming one of the most popular of the 

 manly sports. The 'coon is found in manv sec- 



