I3« QJO ADRUPEDS. 



Lives chiefly on fifh, feals, and dead whales j feldom removes faf 

 from the (bore. When forced by hunger, ventures into the deep, fwims 

 after feals, and devo'jrs whatever it can feize; is but a bad fwimmer, and 

 is often hunted by boats, till fatigued, and at laft deftroyed. 



THE RACOON. 



TH E racoon, which fome have called the Jamaica rar, is about the 

 fize of a fmall badger; body fhort and bulky ; fur fine, long, and 

 , thick, blackifh at the furface, grey toward the botioiTi j nofe rather 

 ihorter, and more pointed than that of a fox; eyes large and yellow; 

 teeth refembling thofe of a dog; tail thick, but tapering, marked with 

 rings of black, at lead as long as the body; f)refeet much fhorter than 

 the hinder ; borh armed with five (harp claws, with which, and his teeth, 

 the animal makes a vigorous rcfiftance. Like the fquirrel, ufes its paws 

 to hold its food (differs from the monkey kind, which ufe but one 

 hand, whereas the racoon and the fquirrel ufe both). Though fliort and 

 bulky, yet very a^live; by its pointed clav/s it climbs trees with great 

 facility; runs up the trunk with the fame fwiftnefs that it moves on the 

 plain; and fports among the extreme branches with great agility; moves 

 forward chiefly by bounding, and though it proceeds obliquely, has 

 fpeed enough frequently to efcape its purluers. 



Native of the fouthern parts of America, found in noxious abundance, 

 in Jamiaica, on the mountains; often defcends to feed on the fugar-cane. 

 The planters confider thefe animals as one of their greatefb miferies ; 

 have contrived various methods of deftroying them, yet they propagate 

 in fuch numbers, that neither traps nor fire-arms can thin them; fo- 

 that a fwarm of thefe famifhed creatures do more injury in one night, 

 ' than the labours of a month can repair. 



When tame, is harmlefs and amufmg; capable of being inflrufted in 

 various tricks. Is playful and cleanly : eats of every thing given it ; if 

 left to itfelf, no cat can be a better provider; examines every corner, 

 eats flefh, boiled or raw, eggs, fruits, corn, infects, fnails, worms and 

 beetles; has a particular fondncfs for fwcets. Will cat its provifions 



dry. 



