The Raccoon 53 



the veteran fished with his paws in the same man- 

 ner as did our pet Jim. 



But though the raccoon may enjoy fishing, his 

 festival season is when the corn is in the milk. It is 

 this fondness for the corn that has brought down 

 upon his luckless head the vengeance of the farmer. 

 When a cornfield has been located by the raccoons 

 they visit it nightly, whether in bright moonlight or 

 in the drizzling rain, until the com is well hardened. 

 Most expert are they in stripping the husks from the 

 ear, using their fore paws as we use our hands. 



In the green-corn season I have often heard what I 

 supposed to be the call of the raccoon, perhaps a 

 summons to meet at some common place of feasting. 

 This vibratory cry seemed to pierce the thick gloom 

 as it came from the forest, field, or near by orchard, 

 the rallying-pall gradually lessening as the various 

 clans met; and when it entirely ceased we imagined 

 that they were busy stripping the husks from the 

 newly formed ears. 



Raccoon-hunting by the light of the August moon 

 has furnished as much sport in the North as has 

 opossum-hunting in the South, although raccoon- 

 himting is not restricted to the North, as many a 

 colored man can testify. The flesh of the young 

 raccoon is toothsome and not by any means to be 



