XIII THE RACCOONS Ay 
molars in either half of each jaw. The carnassial teeth are not 
typically developed, and the molars are broad and tuberculate. 
The tail is long, often prehensile, and often ringed in the dis- 
position of its colour pattern. The alisphenoid canal is absent 
save in the aberrant Aelwrus. Both condyloid and postglenoid 
foramina are present. The members of this family are planti- 
erade. 
The genus Procyon includes at least two species of Raccoon, 
the northern form, P. Jotor, and the South American, P. cancri- 
vorus. To these may possibly be added a third, P. nigripes. 
This genus is characterised by the length and the mobility of 
Fic. 213.—Raccoon. Procyon lotor. xz. 
5 
the fingers, and indeed it uses its hands greatly. It has no 
median groove upon the mugzle, which is found in many other 
Aretoids ; the ears are moderately large; the tail is not long, 
being about one-third of the entire length of the animal, in- 
cluding the tail. The soles of the feet are naked. Its limbs are 
very long (for an Aretoid), and this gives to the animal a 
bunched-up appearance when walking. There are four premolars 
and two molars on each side of each jaw. There are fourteen 
pairs of ribs, of which ten pairs reach the sternum. The latter 
is composed of nine pieces. 
The first-named species has received its name from the fact— 
of which there is abundant proof—that it dips its food into 
water. As a matter of fact, the animal frequents the margins of 
streams, and hunts in the shallow water beneath stones for cray- 
