7 6 



THE SNOW-WALKERS. 



again with all speed. When the coon was finally 

 brought down with a gun, he fought the dog, which 

 was a large, powerful animal, with great fury, returning 

 bite for bite for some moments ; and after a quarter of 

 an hour had elapsed and his unequal antagonist had 

 shaken him as a terrier does a rat, making his teeth 

 meet through the small of his back, the coon still 

 showed fight. 



They are very tenacious of life, and like the badger 

 will always whip a dog of their own size and weight. 

 A woodchuck can bite severely, having teeth that cut 

 like chisels, but a coon has agility and power of limb 

 as well. 



They are only considered game in the fall or towards 

 the close of summer, when they become fat, and their 

 flesh sweet. At this time, cooning in the remote in- 

 terior is a famous pastime. As this animal is entirely 

 nocturnal in its habits it is hunted only at night. A 

 piece of corn on some remote side-hill near the moun- 

 tain, or between two pieces of woods, is most apt to be 

 frequented by them. While the corn is yet green they 

 pull the ears down like hogs, and tearing open the 

 sheathing of husks, eat the tender, succulent kernels, 

 bruising and destroying much more than they devour. 

 Sometimes their ravages are a matter of serious concern 

 to the farmer. But every such neighborhood has its 

 coon-dog, and the boys and young men dearly love the 

 sport. The party sets out about eight or nine o'clock 

 of a dark ; moonless night, and stealthily approach the 



