254 The Raccoon. 



large and extend beyond the lips ; the nails are strong, hooked and 

 sharp, not covered with hairs. The body is densely clothed with 

 two kinds of hairs ; the outer and longer, long and coarse ; the 

 inner, softer and more like wool. 



" Colour. — Point of nose, and soles of feet black ; nails of dark 

 brown ; moustaches nearly all white ; ears, lips, above the snout 

 and chin, dingy white ; above the eyes, and around the forehead, 

 lio'ht gray. A dark brown patch extends from each side of the 

 neck and passes the eyes over the nose nearly reaching the snout, 

 and gradually fading on the forehead into the colonrs of the back ; 

 eyes black ; the longer hairs on the back are dark brown at the 

 roots, then yellowish white for half their length, and are broadly 

 tipped with black; the softer fur beneath, pale brown throughout 

 the whole body ; on the sides and belly, the longer hairs are dingy 

 white from the roots ; the tail has about six distinct black rings, 

 and is tipped with black ; these rings alternate with five light yel- 

 lowish brown annulations." 



This animal is well known all over Canada and the United States 

 as far as south as the Gulf of Mexico. It is said to extend its 

 o-eoo-raphical range further towards the north on the Pacific west 

 of North America, than on that of the Atlantic. The Hudson's 

 Bay Company procure skins in the Red River Settlement, and it 

 appears that that locality is about its extreme northern range. 

 Althouo-h somewhat common in this Province especially in the 

 newer settlements, its history is not very generally known, and 

 yet few animals are more interesting in their habits. We think 

 the following account given by Audubon and Bachman can scarcly 

 be read without amusement : 



HABITS. 



The Raccoon is a cunning animal, is easily tamed, and makes a 

 pleasant monkey-like pet. It is quite dexterous in the use of its 

 fore-feet, and will amble after its master in the manner of a bear, 

 and even follow him into the streets. It is fond of eggs, and de- 

 vours them raw or cooked with avidity, but prefers them raw of 

 course, and if it finds a nest will feast on them morning, noon and 

 nio'ht without being satiated. It will adroitly pick its keeper's 

 pockets of anything it likes to eat, and is always on the watch for 

 dainties. The habits of the muscles (unios) that inhabit our fresh 

 water rivers are better known to the Raccoon than to most con- 

 chologists, and their flavour is as highly relished by this animal ai 



