THE RACCOON. 
N ACCOUNT of the value of 
its skin, this interesting 
animal is much sought after 
by those who take pride in 
their skill in securing it. It 
is commonly known by its abbreviated 
name of Coon, and as it is of frequent 
occurrence throughout the United 
States, every country boy is more or 
less acquainted with its habits. As an 
article of food there is much diversity 
of opinion respecting its merits. It is 
hunted by some for the sport alone, 
which is doubtless to be lamented, and 
by others who enjoy also the pleasure 
of a palatable stew. As a pet it is also 
much prized. 
The food of the Raccoon consists in 
the main of small animals and insects. 
The succulent Oyster also is a favorite 
article of its diet. It bites off the 
hinge of the Oyster and scrapes out the 
animal in fragments with its paws. 
Like the Squirrel when eating a nut, 
the Raccoon usually holds its food 
between its fore paws pressed together 
and sits upon its hind quarters when 
it eats. Poultry is also enjoyed by it, 
and it is said to be as destructive in 
the farm yard as the Fox, as it only 
devours the heads of the fowl. 
When taken young the Coon is 
easily tamed, but often becomes blind 
soon after its capture. This is believed 
to be produced by the sensitiveness of 
its eyes, which are intended only to 
be used by night. As it is frequently 
awakened by day it suffers so much 
from the glare of light that its eyes 
gradually lose their vision. If it must 
be confined at all it should be in a 
darkened place. In zoological gardens 
we have frequently seen several of 
these animals exposed to the glaring 
sunlight, the result of ignorance or 
cruelty, or both. 
Unlike the Fox, the Raccoon is at 
home in a tree, which is the usual 
refuge when danger is near, and not 
being very swift of foot, it is well that 
it posesses this climbing ability. Ac- 
cording to Hallock, the Coons' abode 
is generally in a hollow tree, oak or 
chestnut, and when the ''juvenile farm- 
er's son comes across a Coon tree, he 
is not long in making known his dis- 
covery to friends and neighbors, who 
forthwith assemble at the spot to 
secure it." The "sport *' is in no sense 
agreeable from a humane point of 
view, and we trust it will cease to b£ 
regarded as such by those who indulge 
in it. "The Raccoon makes a heroic 
struggle and often puts many of his 
assailants hors de combat for many a 
day, his jaws being strong and his 
claws sharp." 
The young ones are generally from 
four to eight, pretty little creatures at 
first and about as large as half-grown 
Rats. They are very playful, soon 
become docile and tame, but at the 
first chance will wander off to the 
woods and not return. The Coon is a 
night animal and never travels by day; 
sometimes it is said, being caught at 
morning far from its tree and being 
unable to return thither, it will spend 
the hours of daylight snugly coiled up 
among the thickest foliage of some 
lofty tree-top. It is adroit in its at- 
tempts to baffle Dogs, and will often 
enter a brook and travel for some dis- 
tance in the water, thus puzzling and 
delaying its pursuers. 
A good sized Raccoon will weigh 
from fifteen to twenty pounds. 
The curiosity of the Raccoon is one 
of its most interesting characteristics. 
It will search every place of possible 
concealment for food, examine crit- 
ically any object of interest, will rifle 
a pocket, stand upright and watch 
every motion of man or animal, and 
indeed show a marked desire for all 
sorts of knowledge. Raccoons are 
apparently happy in captivity when 
properly cared for by their keepers. 
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