84 CARNIVORA. 



the limbs rather short, and the fore legs shorter than the hinder. 

 The upper part of the body is of a grayish color mixed with 

 black. The ears nnd under part whitish, with a black patch 

 across the eve. Varieties, however, are seen, some of which 

 are black, others, yellowish white. The tail is bushy, and 

 rather long, with rings of black and gray. Albinos are some 

 times found, with red eyes and only faint traces of rings on the 

 tail. In its feet the Racoon is only partially plantigrade, and 

 when it sits, it often rests the whole hind sole of the foot on the 

 ground, in the manner of a bear. The nails are strong, hooked, 

 sharp and without hair. The outer hair is long and coarse ; 

 the inner, softer and more like wool. 



The Racoon is a cunning, and when mature and in good case, 

 quite a handsome animal. It mounts trees with facility, and fre 

 quently invades the woodpecker s nest ; and it digs up and de 

 vours the eggs of the soft-shelled turtle. 



This animal sometimes makes great havoc among wild as well 

 as domesticated birds, eating only the head, or the blood which 

 flows from their wounds. Occasionally it ravages plantations 

 of sugar cane and Indian corn, especially when the latter is 

 young. Oysters are also a favorite article of food with the 

 racoon. These it is very expert in opening, biting off the hinge, 

 and dexterously hooking out the contents of the shells. Audu- 

 bon remarks that &quot; the habits of the muscles, (unios ) which are 

 found in our fresh water rivers, are better known to the Racoon 

 than to most conchologists, and their flavor is as highly relished 

 by this animal as is that of the best bowl of clam soup by the 

 epicure in that condiment.&quot; Swampy or marshy lands, abound 

 ing in trees and coursed by small streams, are the Racoon s fa 

 vorite resorts ; it traverses the margins of creeks and other wa 

 ters, looking after frogs and muscles, which are found along their 

 banks. It feeds chiefly by night, keeping by day in its nest or 

 lair, which is usually made in the hollow of somo broken branch 

 of a tree. It rolls itself up, with the head between the hind legs, 

 and sleeps away the time until the approach of darkness, when 

 it goes forth in search of food. Sometimes, however, it is seen 

 in corn fields ; occasionally it will make an onset upon poultry 

 during the day. The universal testimony is that it shows great 

 slvness and cunning in its tricks and devices for procuring food. 

 When in captivity, kind treatment soon renders it docile; it learns 

 to be active during the day and to remain quiet at night. It 

 shows an insatiable curiosity, prying into every corner and crev 

 ice with the greatest assiduity. In its habits it then becomes 

 omnivorous, eating any thing, &quot; vegetable or animal, cooked or 



