174 THE AGOURA, OR CRAB-EATIXG RACCOON. 



call him tlie washing-bear. Though savage and bloodthirsty 

 in his wild state, he is frequently tamed ; but he is some- 

 what capricious in temper, and not easily reconciled when 

 offended. It is curious that he should, when domesticated, 

 change his usual custom of sleeping in the daytime and wan- 

 dering about at night ; but this he does, remaining quiet 

 all night, and making his appearance among the inmates of 

 the house as soon as the sun sheds its light abroad. Though 

 in his wild state a fit member for a temperance society, 

 he will when in captivity, as if to recompense himself for his 

 hard lot, drink fermented liquors of all sorts — the stronger 

 and sweeter the better. An old writer on American animals 

 says, in reference to this propensity, that if taken young it is 

 easily made tame, but '' is the drunkenest creature alive, if he 

 can get any liquor that is sweet and strong." The same 

 writer states that the cunning raccoon often catches crabs by 

 inserting one of his feet into their holes, and dragging them 

 out as soon as they seize hold of it. 



THE AGOUARA, OR CRAB-EATIXG RACCOON. 



In the Southern States we find another species of raccoon, 

 somewhat larger than the former, who is addicted to eating 

 molluscs and crustaceans, whether marine or terrestrial. It is 

 said, also, that when other means fail of obtaining food, he 

 seats himself on a branch hanging low down over some quiet 

 pool, and using his flexible tail as a fishing-line, waits 

 patiently till its end is caught hold of by a snapping turtle or 

 other inhabitant of the water, when, whisking it up, he tears 

 open the creature's shell and devours the luscious flesh with 

 aldermanic relish. The fur is generally of a blackish -gray 

 hue, washed with a tinge of yellow. A blacker tint prevails 



