THE RACCOON 



I HE raccoon, although 

 not cunning Hke the 

 fox, is clever, and in 

 certain ways far superior to the 

 notorious Reynard; but while 

 it is almost impossible to snare 

 a fox, conceal the trap as you 

 may, it is an easy matter to 

 tempt a raccoon into either a 

 spring or a box trap, baited with 

 any of his favorite foods. The raccoon has no idea 

 of self-preservation; nothing appears dangerous to 

 him, and he blunders recklessly on to his own self- 

 destruction,, in very much the same manner as does 

 the opossum. Leave this self same blundering ani- 

 mal alone in a room, however, for fifteen minutes, and 

 he will discover more things than a fox would find if 

 he were left there all day. 

 In the use of the fore paws the raccoon resembles 



quite closely the monkey, but on the ground his move- 



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