204 CARNIVORA FISSIPEDIA. 



pools and streams, where they capture fish lurking be- 

 neath the stones and the fresh water mussels buried in 

 the mud and sand, but although they are good swimmers 

 they are unable to dive in pursuit 'of their prey. Trees 

 are their refuge when pursued by foes, and form their 

 resting, and breeding places. Their nests are made in 

 hollows high up from the ground ; but as it does not hunt 

 its prey among the tree tops the Raccoon cannot be 

 considered as an arboreal animal, nor does it gather 

 nuts or fruit from the branches, or feed upon young 

 shoots or twigs, preferring a diet of eggs, birds, fish and 

 smaller animals like mice. From a singular habit it has 

 of eating nothing without first dipping it in water, the 

 Germans call it the Wash Bear. 



Raccoons are the most strictly nocturnal of all North 

 American mammals. They commonly live and travel in 

 small companies and do not return to the same nest every 

 morning, but often make excursions in various direc- 

 tions that last several days, taking refuge at the 

 approach of dawn in any convenient arboreal shelter. 

 In the Adirondacks the young, numbering from four to 

 six to a litter, are produced early in the spring, and 

 remain with the parents about a year. Raccoons hiber- 

 nate during the severest part of the winter, retiring to 

 their nests high up in the trees early in the fall, and not 

 appearing again until February or March of the following 

 year. 



Raccoons are easily caught in steel traps, if these are 

 set under the water at the edge of swamps or streams; 

 but the sporting method of hunting them is at night with 

 trained dogs, when after a short run they invariably take 

 to a tree where they are shot by the hunter. 



Because of the many purposes for which it can be 

 used the fur of the Raccoon ,though not expensive, is 

 very valuable. Either in its natural state, or dyed, it is 

 manufactured into sleigh robes and coats; as well as such 

 small furs as muffs, neck pieces, caps and gloves. 



The Coatis have a singularly elongated and flexible 

 snout, and the teeth, tail, nocturnal habits, and slow 

 dragging gait of the Raccoon. Notwithstanding their long 

 nails, which are used for digging, and their semi-palmate 



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