RACCOON. 465 



is annulated with several black bars : the body is 

 broad, the back arched, the limbs rather short, 

 and the fore legs shorter than the hinder; the 

 animal is covered with thick and long hair, which 

 has a somewhat upright growth : the feet are 

 dusky, and have five toes with very sharp claws. 

 The colour of the Raccoon, which is generally a 

 dark grey, sometimes varies, and has a fulvous or 

 tawny tinge, especially on the lower parts; and a 

 variety entirely of a cream-colour is mentioned by 

 Mr. Pennant. The length of the animal is two feet 

 from nose to tail, and the tail about one foot. The 

 food of the Raccoon, in its wild state, consists 

 chiefly in maize, which it eats while the ears are 

 tender, as well as sugar-canes, various sorts of 

 fruit, as apples, chesnuts, &c. It is also supposed 

 to devour birds and their eggs, and is, therefore, 

 considered as an enemy to poultry. It chiefly 

 feeds by night, and by day keeps in its hole, ex- 

 cept in dull weather. In winter, and in very bad 

 weather, it keeps altogether within, and is popu- 

 larly believed to live like the Bear, by sucking its 

 paws. The Raccoon, however, is an active and 

 sprightly animal when taken into a state of do- 

 mestication. It has a kind of oblique gait in 

 walking; can leap and climb with great ease; and 

 is very frequently seen on trees. It is easily tamed, 

 and is frequently kept in houses by the Ameri- 

 cans, and will live on bread, milk, fish, eggs, &c. 

 It is particularly delighted with sweets of every 

 kind, and has as great a dislike to acids. In eat- 

 ing, it commonly sits on its hind legs, and uses 



