G XOliTM AMERICAN FAUNA (10. FISH AND WILDLIFE SEK\ICE 



in Gatiiii Lake, Canal Zono, and that he has notod that Procyon 

 "washes" its food in the characteristic manner whih' f-'^xjH'ocyon does 

 not. The writer's own general ohsei'vatioiis iiidicittc that under 

 natural conditions Procyon does not regularly wash its food niu] 

 suggest that washing may be limited mainly to food supplied to 

 animals in captivity. As Euprocyon has a very restricted range in 

 North America, the present discussion is limited chiefly to the mem- 

 bers of the typical subgenus Procyon. 



Much has been written on the life history of the raccoon of the 

 eastern United States which may be assumed to apply, with some 

 reservations, to all members of the Procyon lotor group. The peculiar 

 habits of the raccoon began to attract the attention of the settlers 

 during the early colonial period, as is shown by the following quaint 

 and somewhat fantastic account of this animal in the Carolinas by 

 Lawson (1718, p. 121): 



The Raccoon is of a dark-gray Colour; if taken young, is easily made tame, but 

 is the drunkenest Creature living, if he can get any Liquor that is sweet and 

 strong. They are rather more unlucky than a Monkey. When wild, they are 

 very subtle in catching their Prey. Those that live in the Salt- Water, feed much 

 on Oysters which they love. They watch the Oyster when it opens, and nimbly 

 put in their Paw, and pluck out the Fish. Sometimes the Oyster shuts, and 

 holds fast their Paw till the Tide comes in, that they are drown'd, tho' they swim 

 very well. The way that this Animal catches Crabs, which he greatly admires, 

 and which are plenty in Carolina, is worthy of Remark. When he intends to 

 make a Prey of these Fish, he goes to a Marsh, where standing on the Land, he 

 lets his Tail hang in the Water. This the Crab takes for a Bait, and fastens his 

 Claws therein, which as soon as the Raccoon perceives, he, of a sudden, springs 

 forward, a considerable way, on the Land, and brings the Crab along with him. 

 As soon as the Fish finds himself out of his Element, he presently lets go his 

 hold; and then the Raccoon encounters him, by getting him cross-wise in his 

 Mouth, and devours him. There is a sort of small Land-Crab, which we call a 

 Fiddler, that runs into a Hole when any thing pursues him. This Crab the 

 Raccoon takes by putting his Fore-Foot in the Hole, and pulling him out. With 

 a tame Raccoon, this Sport is very diverting. The Chief of his other Food is all 

 sorts of wild Fruits, green Corn, and such as the Bear delights in. This and the 

 Possum are much of a Bigness. The Fur makes good Hats and Linings. The 

 Skin dress'd makes fine W^omens Shooes. 



More accurate early descriptions of the animal in Pennsylvania 

 and New^ Jersey are those of Kalm (Benson 1937, pp. 52-53): 



The quadruped, which Dr. Liniie in the memoirs of the Royal Academy of 

 Sciences has described by the nanu; of Ursus cauda elongata, and which he calls 

 Ursus Lotor, in his Systema Naturae, is here called a raccoon. It is found very 

 frequently and destroys many chickens. It is hunted by dogs, and when it runs 

 up a tree to save itself a man climbs up after it and shakes it down to the ground, 

 where the dogs kill it. The flesh is eaten and is reputed to taste well. The bone 

 of its male parts is used for a pipe cleaner. The hatters purchase their skins and 

 make hats of them, which are next in quality to those of loeavers. The tail is 

 worn round the neck in winter and therefore is likewise valuable. 



