ANIMAL PETS, IN AND OUT OF DOORS 



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but exhibits a keen desire to scratch out a little pit in which to 

 deposit and bury her own excrement. 



Animals, it should be noted with emphasis, are not the dull, 

 uncomely and unclean creatures that some people imagine them to 

 be, and I know of many of the lower creation which can give some 

 human beings a good start regarding their laws of morality, sanita- 

 tion and home influences. 



To return to the Raccoon after this digression — for in a careful 

 and intelligent study of the world of animal life one is bound to 

 take little journeys along some inviting by-path — there are two 

 species. One is found in North America and the other in the South, 

 the Crab-Eating Raccoon inhabiting the South being chiefly dis- 

 tinguished from its Northern relation by the short coat. 



It is the Southern form that is represented in Fig. 46, and from 

 this ex:ellent likeness the reader can gain an adequate idea of the 

 splendid long fur in which this Raccoon is clothed, as well as the 

 black- and yellow-ringed tail. The handsome grizzled fur is largely 

 used for rugs. Does not the general form of this denizen of South 

 America strike the reader as somewhat Fox-like, more particularly 

 as regards the face, upon which, as will be noticed, there is a 

 prominent black patch near the eye ? 



Although the tail is fairly bushy and prettily marked, it does not 

 bear successful comparison with that possessed by Reynard, whilst 

 there are other characteristics which amply distinguish it from the 

 Dogs, these being the arched back (nicely shown in Fig. 46), and 

 the habit the Raccoon has of walking on the soles of its feet instead 

 of on its toes. Beyond these differences, our present pet has the five 

 Joes more fully developed, and when walking spreads them out in a 

 very singular way. Similar to the Fox, however, it is nocturnal in 

 its habits, resorting to some congenial hiding-place during the day. 

 There, snugly tucked up in a hole or the fork of a tree, it rests until 

 the gloaming hour approaches and the hunger-call summons it 

 from lethargy. Out the wary creature goes on its foraging expedi- 

 tion, and little comes amiss to it, both animal and vegetable food 

 being relished. Like some prowling Reynards known to me, the 

 Raccoon is fond of raiding a hen-roost, and we are also told that it 

 has the habit of visiting streams and fishing out the finny tribe by 

 means of one of its active paws. 



When the rigour of Winter drives various kinds of wild folk to 

 securer quarters, the Raccoon is to be numbered among them, for 



