82 



With Rod and Gun in New England 



Photo, from life by W. L. Underwood. 



Looking for Trouble. 



to the orchards, where it selects the finest and most luscious fruit, but only 

 taking a bite or two of each before turning to another, give tangible evi- 

 dence. It is very fond of eggs, and is not particular to have them fresh 

 laid ; being an excellent climber, no bird's nest is secure from it, and the 

 number of eggs and young which it destroys is great. It is a very cunning 

 animal, but is easily trapped, entering readily a trap baited with a fish or 

 ear of sweet corn ; the most common trap with which it is taken is a heavy 

 log set with a figure-of-4 trigger, which, when sprung, drops the log on the 

 raccoon, who is crushed to death ; if caught when young it is easily tamed, 

 but makes a mischievous pet. It nests in a hollow tree, and has from three 

 to seven young at a birth in May, in the latitude of New England. It pre- 

 fers the neighborhood of a thick swamp, with large trees scattered through 

 it, and with a stream of water near by. It hibernates through the winter." 

 " I have participated in one or two raccoon hunts," said the Doctor, 

 " and it is not half bad sport. The coon season commences about the 

 first of September, and lasts until the coons get fat, sometimes until snow 

 flies, but generally not later than the last of October. In some seasons, if 

 there is a plenty of nuts and the raccoons get fat, they retire to winter 

 quarters by the close of October. 



