RACCOON. 



its fore feet in the manner of hands. It has a 

 way of dipping all manner of dry food that is 

 given it into water before it eats it; as well as of 

 rolling it between its paws for some time. When 

 it kills birds, it proceeds exactly in the manner of 

 a Polecat; first biting off the head, and then 

 sucking out the blood. It drinks but little, and 

 is a very cleanly animal. It is extremely expert 

 in opening oysters, on which, as well as on crabs 

 and various kinds of shell-fish, it frequently feeds 

 in its wild state. It is, when tamed, extremely ac- 

 tive and playful; but is of a capricious disposition, 

 and not easily reconciled when offended. When 

 angry, its voice is like a hoarse bark, and at 

 other times soft and sharp. In its wild state it 

 generally inhabits the hollows of trees; but in a 

 domestic state shews no particular inclination for 

 warmth ; nor is it observed to be desirous of lying 

 on straw, or any other substance, in preference to 

 the bare ground. It sleeps from about midnight 

 till noon, at which time it comes out for food and 

 exercise. According to Linnaeus, the Raccoon has 

 a wonderful antipathy to hogs' bristles, and is 

 much disturbed at the sight of a brush*. It 

 produces from two to three young at a birth : this 

 commonly takes place in the month of May. The 

 fur of the Raccoon is used by the hatters, and is 



* This particularity relative to a Raccoon kept and described 

 by Linnaeus, is, by some mistake, applied by the Count de Buftbn 

 to the Coati Mondi or Viverra Nasuaj and is quoted in a note 

 belonging to the history of that animal in his work on quadru- 

 peds. 



