io8 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



Evidently this old cow, alone and unaided, had 

 experimented until she solved the problem of a oOst 

 and rail fence, just as she had also discovered a 

 way to unhook a gate. In other words, she had 

 solved a puzzle box's secret, and had she been 

 human we would say she did it by common sense 

 and reason, but as she was only a cow I must call 

 it instinct to prevent some of my good friends 

 among the naturalists from dealing harshly with 

 this book. 



A RESOURCEFUL ; COON. 



I once owned a 'coon which was extravagantly 

 fond of craw iish, and kept me busy seining the 

 riffs for these fresh water lobsters. 



When a big, vicious specimen was thrown to the 

 'coon, the animal took great care in approaching 

 until it was within easy reach; then it gently placed 

 both its hands upon the middle of the crustacean's 

 back. Moving its hands in opposite directions, the 

 'coon would gently but firmly smooth out the 

 jointed and armored tail, and at the same time lay 

 the strong pincers flat upon the ground, and thus 

 with claws and tail extended the helpless captive 

 was pinioned to the earth to be 



EATEN ALIVE. 



Even a powerful salt water lobster's strength 

 would not avail him in such an emergency. 



Of course, raccoons have hunted craw fish and 

 eaten them in this manner ever since 'coons and 



