140 THE RACCOON. 



great havoc among the sugar-canes, of which they are remarl 

 ably fond. They frequently do incredible mischief in one night s 

 excursion. The planters devise various methods of destroying 

 them, but they are so numerous as to render their extirpation 

 impossible, and it is exceedingly difficult to prevent their depre- 

 dations. 



The raccoon possesses great agility : by the help of its claws, 

 which are extremely sharp, it climbs trees with great ease. 

 When timed, it is good-natured and sportive, but busy and in- 

 quisitive like a monkey. It examines every thing with its paws, 

 and makes use of them as hands to lay hold of every thing that 

 is given it, as well as to carry victuals to its mouth. It sits up 

 to eat, and is extremely fond of sweet things ; but still more of 

 strong liquors, with which, when it has an opportunity, it will 

 get completely intoxicated. It has all the cunning of the fox, is 

 very destructive to poultry* and will eat all sorts of grain, fruits, 

 and roots. It delights in hunting spiders, devours all kinds of 

 insects, and, when left to range in a garden, will eat grasshop- 

 pers, snails, and worms. It opens oysters with amazing dexterity, 

 and has a peculiar method of dipping in water every thing it 

 intends to eat. Indeed, it will seldom taste bread unless it be 

 well soaked. It is familiar and caressing; and leaps upon those 

 it is fond of, moving with great agility. 



A French gentleman had, at one time, a raccoon, of which the 

 following particulars are related : When confined by a chain, he 

 always appeared gentle, but had little inclination to fondness: 

 when liberated, however, he used to express his gratitude by a 

 variety of little caresses. It sometimes happened that his ch^in 

 broke, in which case liberty rendered him insolent, as he would 

 roam about for three or four days together upon the tops of the 

 neighbouring houses, descend, during the night, into the hen- 

 roosts, and eat the heads of all the poultry, having previously 

 strangled them. It was with great difficulty that lie could again 

 be caught, and reconciled to bondage. 



He possessed a strong recollection of ill-treatment, and he 

 could never be brought to forgive it : a servant, one day, gave 

 him several lashes with a whip ; but ever afterwards endeavoured 

 in vain to effect a reconciliation. At the approach of this ser- 

 vant, the animal always exhibited symptoms of rage, and en- 

 deavoured to spring at his enemy, uttering the most doleful cries, 

 and obstinately rejecting even the most favourite food, till the 

 object of his aversion quitted the room. He appeared to dislike 

 noise; as he was always irritated by the crying of children, and 

 frequently inflicted a severe chastisement on a favourite little 

 bitch, when she barked too loud. 



The head of the raccoon resembles that of a fox ; its body is 



