RACCOONS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA 21 



that for which due allowance must be made in other groups of carni- 

 vores. Since the subspecies of Procyon lofor are geographic races 

 with confluent geographic ranges, an unusually large individual of a 

 small form may be similar in size to an unusually small individual of 

 a large form, and color and cranial details may vary in comparable 

 ratio. Owing to individual variation, some specimens, especially 

 from unknown localities, may be difficult to identify subspecifically. 

 They may usually be distinguished, however, by the combination of 

 characters presented. 



Apparently, abnormal individual variations in general color are 

 common in the raccoons. A half-grown example (No. 253823, U. S. 

 Natl. Mus.) from Nelson County, Va., exhibits an apparent case of 

 erythrism. The usual black facial mask, postauricular spots, dark 

 bands on the tail, and the normally dark tips of hairs are light yel- 

 lowish brown; the usual white areas tend toward creamy white. In 

 a specimen from Santee, S. C. (No. 178391, U. S. Natl. Mus.), the 

 usual black tips of the hairs over the back and the dark tail rings are 

 light brownish. The dark facial markings are also inclined toward 

 brown instead of black, and the basal color of the fur in general is 

 lighter than normal. 



No definitely melanistic raccoons have been examined, but in a 

 specimen from Red Bluff, Calif. (No. 14466, U. S. Natl. Mus.), there 

 is an intensification of the overlying black on the upper parts, due to 

 the unusual extent of the black on the tips of the hairs and the cor- 

 responding reduction of the light subapical zone on these hairs. As 

 a result the back appears to be almost solid black. The usual light 

 bars are present on the tail, and the white facial markings are normal. 

 The occin-rence of albino raccoons is reported from time to time. 

 An adult male from PmUicah, Ky. (No. 151657, U. S. Natl. Mus.), is 

 pure white except on the nape where the white is suffused with 

 yellowish. 



The weight of the northern raccoons undoubtedly varies consider- 

 ably according to the season; the animals become very fat in the fall, 

 especially in regions where they must hibernate. The more southern 

 raccoons that are active throughout the year do not accumulate so 

 great a store of fat, and even their shorter pelage would weigh less. 

 The weight differs, of course, in accordance with size in animals of 

 comparable age, sex, and condition in the various species and sub- 

 species. Comparatively few weights, however, appear to have been 

 reliably recorded and are available for comparison. Whitney (1931, 

 p. 31) reports the taking of more than 300 raccoons {Procyon lotor 

 lotor) in Massachusetts and Connecticut during a 7-year period. 

 Of the 300, every one that appeared to be uncommonly large was 

 weighed on accm-ate scales. The largest weighed 22 pounds and 10 



