4) 4 THE RACOON, 
The colour of this animal is rather peculiar, and not very easy to describe. 
The general tint of the body and limbs is an undecided blackish grey, the grey and 
black predominating according to the position of the observer and the arrangement of 
the fur. The hairs that form the coat of the Racoon are of two kinds, the one of a soft 
and woolly character, lying next to the skin, and the other composed of long and rather 
stiff hairs that project through the wool for some distance. The woolly” fur is of a 
uniform grey, while the longer hairs are alternately marked with black and greyish white. 
Upon the top of the head and across the eyes the fur is of a very dark blackish brown ; 
and upon the knee-joint of each leg the fur is of a darker tint than on the rest of the 
body. The tail is rather short and bushy in character, and is marked with five, or 
sometimes six blackish rings upon a ground of dark grey. In the British Museum is 
preserved a specimen of the Racoon, which is entirely white, its fur bemg of as pure a 
whiteness as that of the ermine itself, 
In its gait and general carriage is visible an admixture of the plantigrade with the 
digitigrade ; for when it stands or sits it plants the entire sole of its foot upon the 
ground, but when it runs in haste it only touches the earth with the tips of its toes. 
Generally, it is nocturnal in its habits, passing the whole of the daytime in sleep, snugly 
ewrled up in the warm blanket of its own rich fur, and slumbering heavily with its head 
sunk between its hinder limbs. 
As is indicated by the peculiar nature of its teeth, the Racoon is capable of feeding 
on animal or vegetable food, but seems to prefer the latter. Indeed, there seem to be 
few thines which the Racoon will not eat. One of these animals ate a piece of cedar 
pencil which it snatched out of my hand, and tried very hard to eat the envelope of a 
letter on which I was making notes. Not succeeding in the attempt, it consoled itself 
by tearing the paves into minute morsels, employing teeth and paws in the attempt. It 
did its best to get a ring off my finger, by hitching one of its crooked claws into the ring 
and pulling with all its streneth, which was ve ry considerable in proportion to the size of 
the animal. Its brown eyes lighted up with animation when engaged in play, and it 
was very fond of pushing its paw through the bars of its cage, in order to attract 
attention. 
A Racoon that was kept in a barrack-yard in Canada, in company with a bear, an 
owl, and various finned and feathered creatures, was considered to be the most interesting 
of all the ttle menagerie. It was extremely tame, but could not be trusted near poultry, 
as it had a bad habit of pouncing suddenly upon them, grasping them in its hand- 
like paws, and biting off their heads in a moment. It would then devour the head and 
afterwards the body in a leisurely manner. There were many bats in the neighbourhood, 
and the soldiers were in the habit of capturing those nocturnal depredators, and throwing 
them on the ground within reach of the Racoon’s chain. Before the ,bat could flap its 
wings, the Racoon would leap upon it, roll it rapidly in its paws for a while, and then 
despatch it with a single bite. 
It was rather a vengeful animal, and possessed of a tenacious memory for an insult. 
The great owl that was partaker of the same residence had one day been irritated with 
the Racoon and had pecked it on the back. The Racoon treasured the insult in its heart, 
and waited a favourable time for revenge. The opportunity was not long delayed, for on 
the first occasion that the owl ventured within reach of the Racoon’s chain, the aggrieved 
animal crept shly towards its foe, and adroitly snatched out all the feathers of the owl’s 
tail. 
In its native state it is a great devourer of oysters, crabs, and other similar animals, 
displaying singular ingenuity in opening the stubborn shells of the oysters, or in 
dispatching the crabs without suffering from their ready claws. Sometimes it is said 
to fall a victim to the oyster, and to be held so firmly by the closing shells that it cannot 
extricate itself, and perishes miserably by the rising tide. Its oyster-eating propensities 
have been questioned, but are now clearly proven. The sand and soil that fringe the 
oyster-beds are frequently seen to be covered with the footmarks of this animal. 
It is always fond of water, drinking largely, and immersing its food, so as to moisten 
it as much as possible. When e1 gaged i in this curious custom it grasps the food im both 
