The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-08-20
RAcCooNs AT HOME.

Personally, I should never dream of interrupting fox or other wild crea- ture in the act of stealing a hen. For the pleasure and information to be gained by watching the animal at work the payment of a hen or two would seem no more a loss than would the payment of money for lecture tickets. But then, my living in nowise depends upon the successful rearing of poultry; if he did, might have, had more sympathy for a farmer neighbor who called upon me some months ago. Something. he said, had been stealing his chickens and he wanted to know if I wouldn't try to find out what it was. He and his son were so tired out, every evening, that he didn't see how any of them could sit up nights to watch the hen-house, but never seemed to have nothin' to do "but. rosey around the woods, Iookin' for animals. and takin' pictures" and he thought the job would be just in my line. I thought so too, so accepted the proposition. and that night took an old army blanket and made myself comfortable under the lee of haystack. whence l had a fair view of the farmers hen-house.
 Before that, however, I had all the
 hens removed to another building, for
 knew the animal, whatever it was. would probably return to the scene of it's former successes, and in case had to capture an animal in the hen-house, did not wish to have matters conl- plicated by the insane acts of half 8
 hundred souawking hens. That night,
 however, my watching was in vain, and i the second night was just as barren of
 results. But the third, a beautiful
 moonlight, was not disappointed. It \ may have been Il o'clock when I dis tinctly heard a sound from the diree- | tion of the stable; it was the sound of
 some animal sniffing. Very auietely I
 raised my head until had view of
 large part of the yard. Not a thing
 could see. yet every now and then I
 could hear 8 sniff" which was very
 encouraging. Presently. round an
 angle of the barn came dark-looking
 animal. which, by it's peculiar rocking
 gait alone. I should have recognized
 as a raccon. It came on at a leisurely
 pace. sniffing at every crack in the barn, and occasionally standing on its
 hind legs to look about 1t. Very soon
 it reached the end of the barn. and,
 turning cut across the yard to the hem house. Near one corner of this build ling there was little door for the hens,
 and into this the raccoon walked, as deliberately as though he owned the farm. I arose quietly, and, slipping
 across the yard, dropped the little door into place, and had prisoner. Then I got lantern from the stable, and, opening the door very carefully walk ed into the hen-house. The raccoon
 was walking along the topmost perch
 as I entered, but laying back it's ears,
 and expelling the air from it's lung! with loud tissing sound, it scrambled
 quickly to the ground, and worked its way along the sides of the building
 looking for hole to escape by. ad- vanced toward it, and held out my foot It accepted the challenge on the instant land. rushing forward, seized my shoe I with its teeth, and gave it bite whicf :l made me feel glad that the leather
 was thick. It did not hang on, as many animals do, but drew back as though to prepare for another rush, leaving it: } teeth-marl1s deep in my shoe. I de cided to let it go, and hunt the anima
 up later, to get an idea of private life So I opened the door about foot, ant it dashed out and was lost in tn shadows behind the buildings. almos before could see which way it went For, short-legged and heavily-buil
 though it is. raccoon has a most as tonishing way of hustling over tn } ground when there is any real necessit for it.
 Next day. set out to find where tha raccoon lived, for felt sure it's hom was not very far from the farmyard } had been visiting. After search 0 nearly two days, during which I visite' , ievery hollow tree knew of for two 0
 three miles around, came upon an ol trunk half hidden amongst the branch ,es of other trees. Near the top ther was a very promising hole, and, as tn
 bark had been recently scratched by tn claws of some animal, was pretty sur there was something hairly in that. 3 climbed the trunk, and peering dow t into the dark hole. saw two shinin , stars. and heard again the hissin
 sound which the raccoon had made i the hen-house. had seen. all care 8 ] about. for that day; knew where sE