250 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



The raccoon. 

 Photo by George Fiske, Jr. 



THE RACCOON 



Teaclier's Story 



\ ONE other of our little brothers of the forest, 

 has such a mischievous countenance as the 

 coon. The black patch across the face 

 and surrounding the eyes, like large goggles, 

 and the black line extending from the long, 

 inquisitive nose directly up the forehead give 

 the coon's face an anxious expression; and 

 the keenness of the big, beady, black eyes 

 and the alert, "sassy" looking, broadly 

 triangular ears, convince one that the anxiety 

 depicted in the face is anxiety lest something 

 that should not be done be left undone ; and 



I am sure that anyone who has had experience with pet coons will aver 



that their acts do not belie their looks. 

 What country child, 



wandering by the brook and -i 



watching its turbulence in 



early spring, has not viewed 



with awe, a footprint on the 



muddy banks looking as if it 



were made by the foot of a 5 



very little baby. The first 



one I ever saw, I promptly 



concluded was made by the 



■^aS a-. 





?J3l 



S^ 



S^ 



^-it 



f ■*? 



Hf. 



Coon tracks. 

 Walking 2 Jumping 



