THK SMALL BEARS. 



199 



specific name, signifying "the washer," to its 

 singular habit of washing its food, or, in the 

 absence of water, at least rubbing it with its 

 fore paws, before it consumes it, an action in 

 which it is represented in the engraving. 

 This species, which ranges throughout 

 North America as far as the limit of 

 forests, furnishes us with a valuable 

 kind of warm fur of a grayish-red col- 

 our, which is chiefly used for making 

 mantles, collars, and rugs. The head 

 of the animal shows two broad black 

 patches round the eyes and a stripe 

 of the same colour on the nose. The 

 whole fur is composed of a thick down 

 mingled with long bristly hairs, and 

 the animal seems to be much plumper 

 than it actually is. The raccoon is 

 inclined to be nocturnal in his habits, 

 and is a very intelligent, adroit, lively, 

 and agile creature, which pursues 

 prey just as easily among the trees as 

 on the ground, and whose behaviour, 

 indicating a spritely and frolicsome 

 disposition, has been compared with 

 that of monkeys. He feeds on all 

 that he can lay hold on, and turns for 

 food to the vegetable as well as the 

 animal kingdom. Sweet fruits are 

 just as agreeable to him as small 

 mammals and birds; he shows much 

 dexterity in catching fish and crabs, and is 

 particularly fond of eggs, the contents of 

 which he manages to drain without losing a 

 drop. Insects and their larvae are manifestly 

 relished by him exceedingly. Of all the Car- 

 nivora the raccoon is perhaps the cleverest 

 in the use of his fore paws, for he catches 

 insects in their flight and crushes them be- 

 tween the two front paws, and in general 

 uses these paws almost like hands in carrying 

 the food to his mouth. If there is water 

 near he never fails to betake himself thither 

 to dip his food into it and wash it quite clean 

 before beginning his meal. 



Notwithstanding all his agility the raccoon 



shows much forethought in the measures he 

 takes in pursuing his prey. When he has 

 stilled his hunger he rests in a hole in a tree 

 or in a safe retreat among rocks. 



He is caught in traps, especially in winter 



Fig. 99. The Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor). 



for the sake of his fur, and he is also hunted 

 by torchlight with the aid of well-trained 

 dogs for the sake of his flesh, which is much 

 prized. The young animal is easily tamed, 

 and he would be an agreeable domestic pet 

 on account of the attachment he shows to his 

 master, his lively disposition, and his readiness 

 to live on peaceable terms with other animals, 

 if these good qualities were not cast in the 

 shade by his curiosity, which impels him to 

 poke his nose everywhere and to steal every- 

 thing that is eatable. At first he amuses, but 

 ultimately he becomes a nuisance. 



Although very different in their external 

 appearance the Coatis or Proboscis -bears, 



