34.8 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[October, 
The Raccoon or Coon. 
The Raccoon is one of the most interesting 
of tlie native quadrupeds of tlio United States, 
and claims our attention in tlic three-fold char- 
acter of friend, foe, and household pet. The 
great naturalist Linuajiis classed it in the same 
genus with the bears, (ITrsus,) but natural- 
ists have since separated the genus, of which 
several species, all 
American, are rec- 
ognized. The coon 
is familiar to all 
American farmer 
folks; it is of 
about the size of a 
large cat, of a 
compact build ; 
the entire soles of 
its feet are bare, 
and standing, it 
rests upon its feet 
from toes to heels, 
flat, like a bear, 
but in walking it 
goes upon its toes 
only, like a cat. 
Its coat is very 
lhick,composed of 
a soft, grey fur, 
and long glossy 
hairs, which are 
marked alterately 
with black and 
greyish white. The color therefore varies, as 
the spectator loolvs into it or across it, and accord- 
ing to the liglit, giving it a peculiar richness. The 
face has a dark baud across the eyes, and a dark 
stripe down the nose, which are set off by light 
grey surroundings. The tail, full and bushy, is 
marked by 5 or 6 very distinct dark rings. Tlie 
coon is easily lamed and becomes very familiar ; 
is characterized 
by playfulness, 
fondness of atten- 
tion, and for do- 
ing mischief It 
is an omnivorous 
creature, eating al- 
most every thing, 
but being especial- 
ly Ibnd of sweet 
fruits, green corn, 
honey, nuts, shell 
fish, eggs, birds, 
insects, all kinds 
of grubs, worms, 
etc. In the spring 
it does the farmer 
no little service in 
destroying tlie 
grubs and other 
insects of his field, 
but in the autuum 
he takes his paj^ 
by eating all the 
green corn he 
wants when it is 
in the "roasting 
car " state. The boys know exactly when, and 
after the coon hunt, whether successful or not, 
Ihey never forget to take pay for their good 
deed, or for their good will, as the case may be, 
out of the nearest corn fields. The bushel or 
two of nice ears roasted in the ashes of the fires 
which lighted them and their dogs in dispatch- 
ing the poor coon, is more than a whole family 
of coons would damage in the entire season. 
The Raccoon has a curious habit, which gives 
it its specific name, lotoi; or washer. The 
Germans call it wasch-bar, or washing bear, 
from this peculiaritj'. "Whenever it can do so, 
it lakes its food and dips it in water, waving it 
to and fro. Coons visit poultry yards some- 
times, and the fact may be known by the .5-toed 
tracks, showing occasionally that of the whole 
hind foot, like a miniature human foot print. 
KAOCOON — PlOajOH loijl. 
They eat ofif the heads of poultry, usually leav- 
ing their carcasses. Their habits are chiefly 
nocturnal, and they may be t.aken in box traps, 
steel traps, or by fall traps, baited with sweet 
apples, etc. In autumn they become very fat, and 
they hibernate in winter. Their flesh is like 
bear's meat, and quite agreeable, and their skins 
have considerable value in the fall, or winter. 
asjTSK—M^hUis cluiiya. 
The Skvmk. 
The North American skunk is called by nat- 
uralists. Mephitis cJanffa. It is a well known 
animal, and one with which many have a too 
intimate acquaintance. It is of about the size of 
the Raccoon, but with shorter legs, and a longer 
body in proportion. The head is small, the end 
of the narrow snout blunt ; the color is black 
and white or yellowisli white, black prepon- 
derating, and the fur is long, soft, though coarse, 
and very glossy. The tail is long, and might, 
with propriety, be called a " switch tail " from 
the length of the hairs. The white and yellow- 
ish patches are disposed irregularlj' upon the 
head and back, and white hairs and spots may 
occur on any part of the body. They are per- 
sistent enemies of grubs, and insects. They eat 
mice too, and dis- 
play much skill 
in ferreting out 
mouse nests, for 
eating the young. 
They destroy the 
eggs of birds also, 
eat frogs and 
birds, and prob- 
ably also snakes 
and snake's and 
turtle's eggs. If 
an occasional visit 
to the poultry 
yard puts them 
under the ban of 
the law, do not let 
the vengeance bo 
extended to other 
than the guilty in- 
dividuals. They 
are exceedingly 
peaceable, and 
~ mind their own 
business as well 
as any animals we are acquainted with, but if it 
becomes necessaiy for them to defend them- 
selves, their means of defence are so offensive 
and effectual, that neither man nor beast seeks 
a second encounter. There are two sacs, con- 
nected with secreting glands, which are filled 
with a yellowish oily fluid. These are situated 
beneath the tail, and by a muscular motion, the 
fluid may be eject- 
ed with great force 
in a very fine 
stream to a dis- 
tance of 1.5 or 20 
feet, and with con- 
siderable accuracy 
of aim. This is not 
urine, as has been 
supposed. The ef- 
fect of this nause- 
ous fluid upon a 
dog or a man, is 
to cause gasping 
for breath, and ef- 
fort to obtain fresh 
air by running in 
an opposite direc- 
tion to the enemy. 
The stench can 
be removed from 
clothing by the ac- 
tion of the soil, 
when buried for 
some weeks, but 
this is apt to cause 
it to mold and rot. 
These animals often take up their abodes in 
house cellars,or about the under-pinning of barns, 
etc., but cause no inconvenience if not disturbed. 
They are best dispatched by a well directed shot. 
The flesh is delicate, and esteemed by those who 
can overcome their natural repugnance to it. 
Skunks are nocturnal in their habits, and 
very numerous. Their skins are valuable in 
proportion to their size and amount of black. 
