88 THE PESTS OF THE FARM. 



the raccoou is more remarkable, when we observe that his teeth are 

 not unsuited for eating fruits. When he destroys wild or domes- 

 ticated birds, he puts to death a great number without consuming 

 any part of them, except the head, or the blood which is sucked 

 from the neck. 



Being peculiarly fond of sweet substances, the raccoon is occa- 

 sionally very destructive to plantations of sugar cane, and of 

 Indian corn. While the ear of the Indian corn is still young, soft 

 and tender, " in the milk," it is very sweet, and is then eagerly 

 sought by the raccoons ; troops of them frequently enter fields of 

 maize, and in one night commit extensive depreciations, both by 

 the quantity of grain they consume, and from the number of stalks 

 they break down by their weight. 



The raccoon is an excellent climber, and his strong sharp claws 

 effectually secure him from being shaken off the branches of trees. 

 In fact, so tenaciously does this animal hold to any surface upon 

 which it can make an impression with its claws, that it requires a 

 considerable exertion of a man's strength to drag him off ; and as 

 long as even a single foot remains attached, he continues to cling 

 with great force. 



The conical form of the head, and the very pointed and flexible 

 character of the muzzle or snout, are of great importance in aiding 

 the raccoon to examine every vacuity and crevice to which he 

 gains access ; nor does he neglect any opportunity of using his 

 natural advantages, but explores every nook and cranny, with the 

 most persevering diligence and attention, greedily feeding on spi- 

 ders, worms, or other insects which are discovered by the scrutiny. 

 Where the opening is too small to give admittance to his nose, he 

 employs his fore-paws, and shifts his position or turns his paws 

 sidewise, in order to facilitate their introduction and effect his pur- 

 pose. This disposition to feed on the grubs or lame of insects 

 must render this animal of considerable utility in forest lands, in 

 consequence of the great numbers of injurious and destructive in- 

 sects he consumes. He is also said to catch frogs with consider- 

 able address, by slily creeping up, and then springing on them, so 

 as to grasp them with both paws. 



The size of the raccoon varies with the age and sex of the indi- 

 vidual. A full grown male may be stated to have the body a 

 foot, or a few inches more, in length ; the highest part of the back 

 is about a foot from the ground, while the highest part of the 

 shoulder is ten inches The head is about five, and the tail rather 



