Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-05

| were in plain view, winding In and GU
and showing where Mr.. Coon had beef
nos'ng under the roots along the bank
Then to our great disa appointment his foot
| prints led up from the stream and disap
| peared on hard ground. After searchin,
| IN vain for any further signs Of his trail
we reluctantly returned to the river, an,
resumed our study of the muskrats. w,
had scarcely gone quarter of a mile how
| eVr. when our hopes were again raised by
sight of the wel-krovn tracks In tn,
mud. We at once renewed our stalking
tactics. and in about half an hour we wer,
| rewarded by a glimpse of the object W,
were looking for. We had just reached
| bend in the river when we saw, perhap.
Two hundred yards above us. the coon
on little point of land, quite close to tn,
water. His dark markings were plainl,
visible through our field glasses. and
could not help observing how well they
matched the shadows of the overhanglne
branches Of the trees. He was very bus,
ana d1d not notice us. He was stoopin
over the stream with his front paws in tn,
water. and working away in a manner
which could not fail to remind one Of 3
PERSON in the act of washing clothes
linen we knew that he was about to have
ms dlnner. for raccoons usually wash theil
FOOD before eating it. We tried hard to sec
what 1t was he was rolling in his hands
II
speck of white fur which made us fee
pretty sure that it was a deer mouse, BIZ,
u was only a glimpse and we could not be
certain. Whatever 1t was he soon raised
it to his mouth and putting his head on
one side. as n dog or a cat might do, he
very deliberately chewed it up and swal-
lowed it. As he started to retire from the
river We came out of our hiding place be-
behind clump of aldcrs and began 10
follow as quietly as we could. But he
heard us coming, and for a moment
stopped in his tracks. Then stood straight
up on his hind legs and swung his body
about rs he peered in all directions, as
though trying to discover from which di-
rection the danger was approaching As
fours and made off through the bushes
We followed gaining on him at every
stride, until We were within about twenty
Yards, when he scuttled up big oak tree
as far as the first crotch. AS we came up
he swayed back and forth rather uneaslv,
and after initiating his body with air, ex-
halcd with great force. making a sound
somewhat like the splitting of an angry
cat but louder
Here was chance for nature photo
toFrapher, but alas. our cameras were at
nome, at least two miles away as the crow
flies. My companion came to the rescue
by generously Offering to go back and
bring the complete outfit If could keep
my eye on the coon. and prevent him from
leaving the tree he was in NV part OF the
contract proved to be remarkably easy. for
the coon seemed perfectly satisfied to
stay where he was. After time he lay
down and began to lick his paws. and
after that he half closed his eyes end
watched me with evident curiosity. I too
lay down and we watched one another un-
til we'll along in the afternoon. when my
,bot y, 10
outfit. He had been better than his word
for he had not only brought two cameras
a reflex and n long focus, but stout
sack to carry the coon In, If we were
lucky enough to capture him, and n pair
of buckskin gloves to protect our hands to
some extent from the teeth of our intended
captive. First of all we photographed the
animal where he lay in the crotch and
then I got near the tree to see how he
looked near to. AS soon as he saw me
coming, he scrambled higher UP the trunk
and made his way out upon a horizontal
branch perhaps thirty feet ur. He did not
like my following him, and as I crawled
ont upon the branch. he turned round
hid back his ears and made several short
PUSHES toward me, growing and showing
his teeth. Finding that this did not bring
about the desired result, he crawled out
almost to the end of the branch, gray
squirrel could scarcely have gone further.
ind there he hung With nv friends as
1istance I hauled up the 49, W at the
md OF cord and straddin, tho branch,
got several pictures OF our friend the
coon.
Then came the problem Of capturing him
alive; for we wished to study him awhile.
We felt certain he would never come
lown" so we tried TO lasso him. With the
cord in my hand I orept as near him as my
weight would permit and attempted to
hi
was poor one and the sudden movement
proved too much for the branch, which
broke with the weight. But being honest
'ak did not part from the tree, but hung
swinging in the wind The coon was first
10 recover hts presence of mind, and the
irst thing I knew he was scrambling over
my body to get back into the tree. re-
allied that If he ever hooked his claws in
o my face. I should be disfiigured for life.
80 with my knees and one arm I threw
him off, and az luck would have it he lost
MS grip and fell to the ground He landed
ike a great furry ball, and was tearing
hroogh the undcrhru5h towards another
rec before my friend recovered from his
establishment.
There was nothing to be done but begin
III over again After getting down from my
position as best I could, I
ollcwed the coon to the tree he had
'scended, and where he was now perchcd
m the top Of one Of the highest branches.
lie hissed and growled as I came near to
lin, cord In hand but this time the throw
vas not 40 wild and tho moose fairly .ell
'vcr his head That was the beginning of !
he end He soon discovered that the pres
utc Of the cord about his neck was re |
luced when he yielded and after a few
avaRe attempts to get away he followed
ne down 70 the ground. Here he gave a
plendid exhibition of his strength. by
lnging to every brush and tree trunk in
he vicinity, using arms, and legs and head
n his efforts. When l pulled tho cord, |
e sie7ed It with his front paws and en-
Favored to wrench it out of my hands, at
he same time backing away with all his |
night. We took advantage of this habit of
'ncking 10 play little trick or him. My
ompanion held the open mouth Of the
ack Just behind him, and when | gave a |
ull at the crd, he backed right into the
ack and we had him safe.
So far he has not taken captivity unkird- |
yly. He cats we'll and allows me to pat
is head without attempting to bite. At
he same time IL is n pity to keep wild
ninals in captivity longer than necessary
nd before long he will again be at liberty.
ERNEST HAROLD BARNES.
A IT