RACCOON FAMILY. 



39 



being more like the ordinary carnivorous type ; while the skull has not the short 

 and convex form of the panda's. 



Externally, the raccoons are characterised by their thickly-built and stout 

 bodies, their heads broad behind but tapering to a sharp point at the muzzle, and 

 their medium-sized and distinctly-ringed tails. The ears are small and rounded. 

 When walking, the entire sole of the foot is not applied to the ground, as it is when 

 the animal is standing at rest ; while the toes themselves, and more especially those 

 of the fore-feet, can be spread out very widely. The compressed and curved nails 

 differ from those of the panda in being entirely non-retractile. The fur is 

 characterised by its length, softness, and thickness, and is greatly developed on the 

 tail, but is very short on the feet, of which the soles are naked. 



The best-known species is the common raccoon {Procyon lotor), of which a 

 group is represented on the next page. The total length of this animal varies 

 from about 32 to 36 inches, of which some 10 inches are occupied by the tail. The 

 body is covered with thick and rather coarse fur, of a dark brown colour, with the 



SKELETON OF RACCOON. 



tips of the hairs greyish ; but there is a distinct black patch on either side of the 

 face, including the eyes, and the muzzle is naked. The tail has five black rings, 

 separated by others of a whitish colour, and its tip is black. When in its best con- 

 dition, which is usually in the autumn, a raccoon will weigh from 15 to 25 lbs. 

 There is considerable local variation in the colour of this species ; the coloration 

 being most brilliant in the southern portion of its range, where its bodily size is 

 also greater than in the north. The common raccoon is confined to Northern and 

 Central America, extending from Alaska in the north to Costa Rica in the south, 

 and occurring over the whole of the United States, where these animals used to 

 be among the commonest. 



The best of the recent accounts of this raccoon is given by Dr. 

 Hart Merriam, who tells us that raccoons are exceedingly common 

 about the borders of the Adirondacks, but avoid the dense evergreen forests of 

 the interior. Although, with the exception of bats and flying squirrels, they are 

 the most strictly nocturnal of all North American Mammals, yet they may 

 occasionally be seen abroad on cloudy days. In diet they are thoroughly car- 

 nivorous — feeding upon mice, young birds, birds' eggs, fresh-water tortoises and 



Habits. 



