CARNARIA. 88 



pROCYON, Storr. 



The Ratons or Raccoons have tliree back tuberculous molars, the su- 

 perior of which are nearly square, and tliree pointed false molars in front, 

 forming a continuous series to the canines, which are straight and com- 

 pressed. Their tail is long, but the remainder of the exterior is that of a 

 bear in miniature. They rest the whole sole of the foot on the ground 

 only when they stand still; when they walk they raise the heel, 



P. lotor; Ursus lotor, L. ; Mapach of the Mexicans ; Buff. VIII. 

 xliii. (The Raccoon). Greyish brown ; muzzle white ; a brown 

 streak across the eyes ; tail marked with brown and white rings. 

 This animal is about the size of a Badger, is easily tamed, and re- 

 markable for a singular habit of eating nothing without having pre- 

 viously dipped it in water. From North America — lives on eggs, 

 birds, &c. 



P. cancrivorus; Ursus cancriv. L.; Buff. Supp. VI. xxxii. (The 

 Raccoon Crab-eater). A uniform light ash-brown ; the rings on the 

 tail less distinct. From South America. 



AiLuiius, Fred. Cuv. 



The Panda appears to approximate to the Raccoon by its canines, and 

 what is known of its other teeth; with this exception, that it has only one 

 false molar. The head is short ; tail long ; walk plantigrade ; five toes, 

 with half retractile nails*. One species only is known, the 



A. refidgens, Fred. Cuv. Mammif. ; Hardwick, Linn. Trans. XV. 

 p. 161. (The Shining Panda). Size of a large cat ; fur soft and 

 thickly set ; above of the most brilliant cinnamon red ; behind more 

 fawn-coloured ; beneath of a deep black. The head is whitish, and 

 the tail marked with brown rings. This most beautiful of all known 

 quadrupeds, and which inhabits the mountains of the north of India, 

 was sent to Europe by my son-in-law the late M. Alfred du Vaucel. 



.IcTiDES, Valenciennes. 



The Benturong is somewhat related to the Raccoon by its teeth; but 

 the three upper back molars are much smaller and less tuberculous ; and 

 this is especially the case in the last one in each jaw, which is very small 



* General Hardwick has described the upper teeth of the Panda, Lin. Trans. XV. 

 pi. ii. There are four square and tuberculous grinders, and one false trenchant mo- 

 lar in front, at a short distance from the canine. 



quite empty, and collapse into a small compass within the abdomen, whilst the ex- 

 ti-emity of the last bowel is blocked up by a piece of hard wadding, called in Sweden 

 Tappen. In November, he retires to his den, which is usually prepared before-hand, 

 and here he undergoes the state of hybernation. About the middle of the following 

 April, the bear quits his den, voids the tappen, and bounds with fresh vigour into the 

 forest in search of food. The tappen, when chemically examined, has been found to 

 consist of the following ingredients : brown resin, green volatile oil, colouring matter 

 of leaves, fat, starch, woody matter, with the acids and salts of trees in the Scandina- 

 vian forests. We are unable to find any account of the substance called Tappen in 

 the most complete systematic works on the subjects of comparative anatomy and ani- 

 mal secretions. We have carefully consulted the great work of Berzelius, himself a 

 Swede; but we can find no allusion to the substance amidst the vast details which he 

 gives of the secretions of the Manunalia. — Eng. Ed. 

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