fishes for turtles! that it squats upon the bank of the
stream, allowing its bushy tail to hang over into the water; that the
turtles swimming about in search of food or amusement, spies the hairy
appendage and lays hold of it; and that the 'coon, feeling the nibble,
suddenly draws the testaceous swimmer upon dry land, and then "cleans
out de shell" at his leisure!

The 'coon is often domesticated in America. It is harmless as a dog or
cat except when crossed by children, when it will snarl, snap, and bite
like the most crabbed cur. It is troublesome, however, where poultry is
kept, and this prevents its being much of a favourite. Indeed, it is
not one, for it is hunted everywhere, and killed--wherever this can be
done--on sight.

There is a curious connection between the negro and the raccoon. It is
not a tie of sympathy, but a kind of antagonism. The 'coon, as already
observed, is the negro's legitimate game. 'Coon-hunting is peculiarly a
negro sport. The negro is the 'coon's mortal enemy. He kills the 'coon
when and wherever he can, and cats it too. He loves its "meat," which
is pork-tasted, and in young 'coons palatable enough, but in old ones
rather rank. This, however, our "darkie" friend does not much mind,
particularly if his master be a "stingy old boss," and keeps him on rice
instead of meat rations. The negro, moreover, makes an odd "bit"
(twelve and a half cents) by the skin, which he disposes of to the
neighbouring "storekeeper."

The 'coon-hunt is a "nocturnal" sport, and therefore does not interfere
with the negro's regular labour. By right the night belongs to him, and
he may then dispose of his time as he pleases, which he often does in
this very way.

The negro is not, allowed to carry fire-arms, and for this reason the
squirrel may perch upon a high limb, jerk its tail about and defy him;
the hare may run swiftly away, and the wild turkey may tantalise him
with its incessant "gobbling." But the 'coon can be killed without
fire-arms. The 'coon can be overtaken and "treed." The negro is not
denied the use of an axe, and no man knows better how to handle it than
he. The 'coon, therefore, is his natural game, and much sport does he
have in its pursuit. Nearly the same may be said of the opossum
(_Didelphis Virginiana_); but the "'possum" is more rare, and it is not
our intention now to describe that very curious creature. From both
'coon and 'possum does the poor negro derive infinit