RACOONS. 55 



The vast forests of America, such especially as 

 border the shores of the Atlantic, harbour in con- 

 siderable numbers the playful and capricious race 

 of Racoons (Ursus loter); while their less hardy 

 brother, the Crab Racoon (Procyon cancrivorus) 

 prefers the milder climate of the south. 



The former of this interesting species is pecu- 

 liarly active in the night. During the day he seems 

 asleep, curled up in his nest like a dormouse; but 

 when evening draws on he is all alive. He then 

 climbs the highest trees, in order to surprise the 

 unconscious birds, and plunder their little citadels; 

 or ferrets into the hollows made by woodpeckers 

 in aged trunks and waving branches, strips off the 

 moss and lichens to search for insects, and peeps 

 into every fissure of the earth, that may chance to 

 excite his curiosity. As he drinks by suction, and 

 water seems essential to his comfort, he frequents 

 the banks of rivers, and is often seen running along 

 the sea coast, to catch molluscse and crab-fish. His 

 sense of smelling is exquisite, but not so his organs 

 of hearing; and though easily tamed, or rather 

 made familiar with the hand that feeds him, he 

 seems incapable of either obedience or affection. 

 If once a prisoner, he must always continue such; 

 he cannot be trusted with partial freedom. Cap- 

 tivity causes him to contract new habits, but he 

 never loses his love of liberty. 



This animal has been frequently brought into 

 Europe, and is well known with regard to character 

 and organization. But little has been ascertained 

 with certainty respecting his wild habits, the means 

 by which he obtains his food, or in what way he 



