354 THE "RACCOON. 



plantigrade, it was classed by Linnaeus in the genus Ursus. 

 In the wild state, it sleeps by day, comes from its retreat 

 in the evening, and prowls in the night in search of roots, 

 fruits, green corn, birds and insects. It is said to eat 

 merely the brain, or suck the blood of such birds as it kills. 

 At low water, it frequents the sea shore to feed on crabs 

 and oysters. It is fond of dipping its food into water be- 

 fore it eats, which occasioned Linnaeus to give it the speci- 

 fic name of later. It climbs trees with facility. The fur 

 of the raccoon is used in the manufacture of hats, and its 

 flesh, when it has been fed on vegetables, is reported to be 

 good. 



He may be tamed without difficulty, and is then very 

 good-natured and sportive, but is as mischievous as a 

 monkey, and seldom remains at rest. Of ill treatment 

 he is extremely sensible, and never forgives those from 

 whom he has received it. He has also an antipathy to 

 sharp and harsh sounds, such as the bark of a dog and 

 the cry of a child. We insert here, the part of a letter written 

 by M. Blanquart de Salines, to Count de Buffbn, on the 

 correctness of which full reliance may be placed. 



" My raccoon was always kept chained before he came 

 into my possession, and in this captivity he seemed suffi- 

 ciently gentle, though not caressing ; all the inmates of the 

 house paid him the same attention, but he received them 

 differently ; treatment he would submit to from one per- 

 son, invariably offended him when offered by another. 

 When his chain was occasionally broken, liberty rendered 

 him insolent ; he took possession of his apartment, suffer- 

 ing no one to approach him, and was with difficulty again 

 confined. During his stay with me, his confinement was 

 frequently suspended ; without loosing of him, I allowed 

 him to walk about with his chain on, and he expressed his 

 gratitude by various movements. It was otherwise when 

 he escaped by his own efforts : he would then ramble for 

 three or four days together over the neighboring roofs, and 



