CHAPTER XV. 

 THE RACOONS AND PANDAS. 



THE COMMON RACOON — THE CRAB-EATING RACOON — THE CALIFORNIA COON — THE COATI — THK 

 RED COATI — THE WHITE COATI — THE KINKAJOU — THE AMERICAN CIVET OR MOUNTAIN CAT^ 

 THE PANDA OR WAH. 



THE family ProcyoniD/E are a small but interesting family of 

 bear-like quadrupeds, ranging from British Columbia to Para- 

 guay and the tropical forests to the south thereof. It embraces 

 fotcr genera, all peculiar to the New World. 



I.— GENUS PROCYON. 



This genus is usually considered to be represented by only one 

 species, but at least the varieties inhabiting South America are so well 

 defined as to deserve the dignity of species. The animals in this genus 

 are characterized by the following marks. The body is compact, the 

 head very broad posteriorly, the muzzle short, the eyes large and close 

 together, the ears large and on the side of the head, the legs high and 

 thin, the soles of the feet naked with moderately long toes and strong 

 claws ; the tail is long, the fur rich, long and smooth. 



The Racoon, Procyon lotor (Plate XXI), derives its specific title of 

 "Lofor" or "Washer" from its habit of immersing its food before eating: 

 it grasps the morsel in both fore-paws, and shakes it violently backward 

 and forward in the water. 



The general tint of the body and limbs is an undecided blackish-gray, 

 the gray or black predominating according to the position of the ob- 

 server 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 



