313 CARNIVORA. 



hairs tliat project through the wool for some distance. The woolly tin- 

 is of a unilonn gray, while the longer hairs arc alternately markctl wilh 

 blark and grayish-wliite. Upon tlic toj) 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 cliaracler, and is marked with live or six 

 blackish rings on a dark gray ground, it is ni)cturnal in its habits, ami 

 when standing is plantigrade, tiiat is, it stands on the soles of its feet, but 

 it runs on the tips of its toes. It hibernates in winter. 



It eats anything, fruit, clu-stuuts, grapis, corn, and birds, and is very 

 skiihd in sucking eggs; it devours iish, crabs, and oj'sters, as well as in- 

 sects. In captivity it shows a propensity for intoxicating liquors. 

 Lawsoii, the surveyor-general of Carolina, in 17S4, says, "It is the 

 drunkcnest creatuii' living, if he I'an get anv liipior that is sweet ami 

 strong." 



in s\/.v the ivacoou C(iuals a small fox, and it is usually liuntcti by the 

 aid of dogs till it takes refuge in a tree, from whicii it is dislodged either 

 by an expert climber, or by felling the tree. Audubon gives the follow- 

 ing account of a C\)on hunt. " The boys had got up with the dogs, which 

 were baying at a Racoon in a small puddle. \Vc soon joined tiiem with 

 a light. 'Now, stranger, watch ami see!' The Racoon was all but 

 swimming, and yet had hold of the bottom of the pool with his feet. The 

 glare of tiie lighted torcii was doubtless distressing to him ; his coat was 

 milled, anil his roumlctl tail scemeil thrice its ordinary size, his eyes 

 shone like emeralds ; wilh loaming jaws lie watelicd ihc dogs, ready to 

 seize each by the snout il it came within reach. They kept iiim busy for 

 several minutes; the water became thick with mud; his coat nt)w hung 

 dripping and his draggled tail la^^ floating on the surface. His guttural 

 growlings, in place ol intimidating his assailants, excited them the more, 

 anil they closed upon him. One seized him by the rump, but was soon 

 forced to let go; another stuck to his side, but Coon made him yelp 

 pitifully. The Racoon would not let go, but in the meantime the other 

 dogs seized him and worried him to de.ilh. To the last he held on to his 

 antagonist's snout. Knocked on the iieail by an axe, he lay gasping, the 

 hea\ ing of his chest being painful to see. The hunters stood gazing at 

 him in the pool, while all around was, by the flare of tiie torch, rendered 

 doubly dark and dismal, ll was a scene for a painter." 



The Coon is easily tamed, but can ne\er be trusted near jioultry. 



