HOW TO BUILD. | 
ND FURNISH THEM 
SY 
The most practical book on the 
subject of building and furnishing 
Log Cabins or Cottages ever writ- 
ten. This volume contains the 
solution of all problems that con- 
front the builder of a temporary 
or permanent home, and furnishes 
full explanation on how and where 
to build anything from a shack to 
the most pretentious mountain 
structure. Added to the practical 
and valuable instruction on the 
construction of fireplaces, chim- 
neys, rustic stairways, etc., this 
book contains 43 full-page illus- 
trations—57 figures. 
Bound in cloth—134 pp.—9 x 6. 

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556 
In writing to Advertisers mention Forest and Stream, 
credible distance. If dogs do not read- 
ily take to water it is almost useless 
to hunt along a stream for raccoon 
with them. When being chased they 
are really fond of sitting on a stone 
or log situated in the stream, thus de- 
ceiving and tantalizing the hounds. If 
a wooded island is to be found they 
hasten to this retreat and climb to 
the top of its highest tree. The best 
dogs bred for such hunting are Walker 
hounds and what are commonly known 
as red bone hounds. A cross between 
a fox hound and a bench-legged bea- 
gle has sometimes produced fine hunt- 
ing dogs. Presumably the speed is in- 
herited from the fox hound and the 
accurate scent from the beagle. Such 
a dog has been known to swim a high 
river literally laden with drift and 
tree the raccoon on the opposite hill- 
side. Certainly there are numerous 
other breeds than the dogs mentioned. 
NE who has hunted raccoon for 
many years undoubtedly has 
many reminiscences of queer catches. 
A large animal will defend himself in 
deep water by seizing a swimming dog 
by the head with his little arms and 
ducking his foe ‘so vigorously and so 
repeatedly that he has sometimes been 
known to drown the dog. When the 
hunter is sufficiently fortunate to bring 
from the water the pursued animal the 
result is usually a _ splendid prize. 
When a raccoon takes refuge in a den 
tree, it is impossible to induce him to 
come out unless the tree is cut down 
or some scheme devised to touch him. 
If the hunter is sufficiently anxious to 
procure his game that he climbs the 
tree he may frighten the animal so 
greatly by merely touching him with 
a stick that he will leap in the air 
like a sky rocket not recovering him- 
self until he strikes the ground many, 
many feet below. When thus fright- 
ened, they will leap from a height of 
seventy-five or eighty feet. A case is 
known in which a raccoon climbed the 
trunk of a tree from the inside enter- 
ing by a large cavity near the roots. 
HIS was simply a_ temporary 
refuge, for they seldom enter the 
interior of the tree except from the 
top. Every effort to persuade him to 
come out seemed futile until a fire was 
built within the tree. When the fire 
blazed furiously the creature came 
down through the flame and almost 
literally flew down through the timber 
resembling in a striking way a streak 
of fire. The animal had to be shot 
down from another tree some distance 
away. 
Raccoon are sometimes kept as pets, 
and although they become domestic, 
friendly, and even lovable, their wild 
nature seems to remain with them. 
Seven specimens were once taken from 
a large hollow limb, one of them hav- 
ing a collar and chain attached. This 
is one of many similar cases known 
to hundreds in a certain vicinity. It 
naturally follows that the animal had 
once been tamed, but had deliberately 
escaped when the opportunity pre- 
sented itself. 
FULL grown male raccoon 
weighs from fifteen to twenty 
pounds, sometimes twenty-five pounds, 
a corresponding female being from 
three to five pounds lighter. No ani- 
mal of its size can deliver a tougher 
fight. A dog’s nose is their favorite 
target. When once their teeth have 
been securely fastened they refuse to 
release their enemy until their breath 
is entirely shut off, which is some- 
times done by two men standing on 
the animal’s body. They are brave 
enough to fight several men and pre- 
sent a splendid pugilistic scene when 
they stand on their rear legs and run 
at a man like a little hero. The 
hunter of experience will say that in 
such a case it pays to sidestep the 
tiny fighter. Whatever may be said 
as to the enjoyment of the sport, tor- 
ture should be eliminated. 
Shooting raccoon by night is not an 
easy task, even though one be a good 
marskman. On a dark night the ani- 
mal cannot be seen but must be lo- 
cated by the eyes which shine like two 
bright balls of fire. Those unfamiliar 
with the finer features of the creature 
sometimes think they are shooting a 
raccoon, only to be rewarded with a 
house cat or an opossum. The rac- 
coon’s eyes are clceser together than 
those of a cat and much brighter than 
those of an opossum. 
yANy experienced night hunter imme- 
diately recognizes his game by its 
eyes. The inexperienced have been 
known to shoot at a star through the 
dense branches of a tree. A good gun 
is almost absolutely necessary. A poor 
gun usually represents less game and 
damaged fur, as it is necessary to 
shoot so many times and merely pene- 
trate the hide without hitting a vital 
spot. A twenty-gauge gun, smokeless 
powder and No. 4 shot are to be rec- 
ommended as this kills the animal and 
avoids mere injury or escape. This 
outfit also represents little weight and 
does not greatly tire one on an all-day 
trip. 
The fur of the raccoon is of a beau- 
tiful rich color. Regardless of the 
popularity and high price of the red 
fox fur, many people prefer the more 
modest color. The best fur is that 
taken from animals that live in trees 
rather than beneath the ground or 
other places of abode. Such furs are 
much darker and larger and the 
It will identify you. 
OE 
