'COON-HUNTING IN" SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. 



By Daniel Ahbowsmith ("Sangamon"). 



fHE Raccoon is found throughout the whole of the 

 United States and the southern parts of British 

 America. It is one of the smaller species of the 

 If?* Plantigrade, or Bear tribe, and is about three feet 

 in length from nose to tip of tail, the latter being about 

 ten inches long. The body is covered with a long, dense 

 coat of dark-brown fur, the outer tips of a grayish color. 

 The tail has five black rings of coarse fur, some two 

 inches apart, and the tip is black. The animal when in 

 full flesh, in late autumn, weighs from fifteen to twenty-five 

 pounds — some few specimens, exceeding the latter figure by 

 a few pounds. 



The Raccoon is one of the valuable fur-bearing animals 

 of North America. In the early settlement of the Missis- 

 sippi Valley States, when money was scarce, the 'Coon-skin 

 passed as current funds, and was usually valued at twenty- 

 five cents. 



The Raccoon is a nocturnal animal. It scarcely ever 

 shows itself during the day-time, but lies coiled up in the 

 upper hollow of some old, decaying tree, and then comes 

 forth after night-fall to rustle for its food. 



It is omnivorous. In the spring and early summer, it 

 feeds on craw-fish, frogs, birds, and eggs, and will make 

 frequent visits to the hen-roosts of the farmer. It also eats 

 berries, wild grapes, acorns, and corn, of which it is as fond 

 as a hog. It frequents the corn-fields from the time of 

 roasting-ears until the corn is all gathered. On such food, 

 it becomes exceedingly fat, and when in this condition, 

 makes a splendid roast for the table. 



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