30 GAME ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



less sly cunning than the fox in evading the g^ns which man pre. 

 pares for their capture. They will eat anything, being particularly 

 fond of eggs, meat and green corn, frequently holding a " swarry " 

 in the hen-house and cornfield the same evening. 



Nocturnal coon-hunts frequently result disastrously to other 

 animals ; and occasionally a party of hunters will return with a 

 varied bag, without coon perhaps, but including skunk, wood- 

 chuck, cat, etc. Sometimes, too, the dogs will go off on a fox 

 trail, and in that case may not be seen again for twenty-four or 

 thirty-six hours. 



When caught young and domesticated, coons make very at- 

 tractive, though very mischievous pets about the place. A year 

 or more ago, a pair of young coons were a source of unending 

 amusement to the guests at Camp Tip-Top, " Houghton Farm." 

 One night they carried off the shirt, drawers, shirt collar and 

 cravat of a gentleman who was sleeping in an upper story of the 

 Swiss cottage, and stowed the stolen articles away between the 

 rafters next to the roof; no sooner had the owner been awak- 

 ened and recovered them, than the little rascals again returned 

 and attempted to make away with the articles of wearing ap- 

 parel. Finally, the gentleman, as a last resort, strung them on 

 a long pole which ran across the room from one rafter to an- 

 other. But the coons did not propose to be circumvented 

 in this manner. They crawled out on the poles aj far as they 

 could, reached with their long paws, and again succeeded in 

 making away with the shirt. The owner was so much entertained 

 by their sagacity and perseverance, that he permitted the young 

 coons to carry off shirt and drawers for the second time, and 

 hide them under the eaves. 



