Raccoon 



The wolverine is thoroughly hated by Indian and white 

 trapper alike; he is often known as Indian devil, or north shore 

 devil, and his capture gives greater satisfaction than the value 

 of his fur alone would seem to warrant. 



But his catching is no such easy matter, for he is slyer 

 than a fox when it comes to springing a trap without harm to 

 himself. The most successful method of trapping him seems to 

 be to bury both trap and bait deep in the snow, as if with 

 the intention of keeping it away from him. 



RACCOONS AND THEIR ALLIES 



Family Procyonida 



Small or medium sized bear-like animals, mainly tropical, 

 but represented in North America by the Raccoon and in the 

 west also by the Bassaris and Coati. All of these may be rec- 

 ognized by their black and white-ringed tails. 



RACCOON 



Procyon lotor (Linnaeus) 

 Called also "Coon." 



Length. 32 inches. 



Description. Form stout, tail thick, snout pointed, long hair, 

 rather coarse. General colour gray or yellowish at base of 

 hair, dusky or black at tips; dark on the back; face 

 whitish, with a black area on each cheek surrounding the 

 eye; feet black; tail very bushy, grayish-white, strongly 

 ringed with black. (Illustration facing p. 248.) 



Range. Eastern United States to the Rocky Mountains, replaced 

 in Florida by the Florida Raccoon P. lotor elucus Bangs, a 

 gaunter animal, more yellow in colour. Other varieties occur 

 westward. 



It is interesting to note the pronounced difference which 

 exists between the various species of our native wild animals 

 as regards the readiness with which they manage to adapt 



247 



