THE SENSES AND INSTINCTS OF THE RACCOON 309 



did not always dip their food in water. No doubt this was 

 partly due to their being fed together so that they formed the 

 habit of eating rapidly. Moreover, they were, at first, fed 

 only for operating some problem-box and this may also have 

 tended to inhibit the instinct. Nevertheless, I do not believe 

 that the raccoon in his native state will carry food very far for 

 the purpose of "washing it." The impulse is present, of course, 

 but it is no more invariable than any other instinct, and it has 

 probably been observed most often in pet raccoons with a 

 vessel of water always near them. 



Sexual Instinct: No certain evidence of the presence of this 

 instinct was observed until the twelfth month. 



HABITS 



Using the word habit in the natural history sense I may 

 mention briefly some characteristic traits of the raccoon's be- 

 havior. In drinking they lap the water or milk but with the 

 nose very close to the surface of the liquid. When heated by 

 exercise they pant like dogs but with the tongue only slightly 

 protruded. 



There are two rather characteristic positions in sleeping. In 

 one the animal lies on his back with his forepaws placed over 

 his eyes. A young raccoon, when held and somewhat fright- 

 ened, also puts both forepaws over his eyes, thus giving a some- 

 what comical appearance, suggestive of "hiding its face in its 

 hands." Another position in sleep consists in rolling the body 

 almost into a ball with the top of the head placed flat on the 

 floor between the forelegs. In this position even the ears are 

 hardly visible. Though the animal does sleep in other positions 

 these two are most common. It would seem that the raccoon 

 sleeps best, therefore, with his eyes not only closed but covered, 

 and that for protection he depends most upon his lofty nest 

 and its concealment from enemies. 



Brehm says, " In May the female brings forth two or three, 

 according to Audubon four to six, very small young ones in a 

 rather carefully prepared den in a high tree." There were four 

 young animals in the litter which I secured. 



