THE RACOON. 



hippopotamus of the new continent, but degraded 

 both as to its size and ferocity. 



This animal bears some distant resemblance in 

 its form to a mule. It has a long snout, which it 

 lengthens or contracts at pleasure. Its ears are 

 small, long, and pendant. Its neck and tail are 

 short, and its claws strong and firm, of which it 

 has four upon each foot. Its skin is thick, and 

 covered with brown hair, and the natives make 

 shields of it, which cannot be pierced by an arrow. 



This animal may in some measure be termed 

 amphibious, as it chiefly resides in the water. It 

 differs however from all others of this kind, in 

 feeding entirely upon vegetables, and not making 

 this element the place of its depredations. It 

 feeds upon the pastures by the river side, and as 

 it is very timorous, the instant it hears the least 

 noise, it plunges into the stream. They are 

 greatly sought after by the natives, as their flesh 

 is considered as a delicacy, and thought by some 

 not inferior to beef. 



CHAPTER XX. 



THE RACOON. 



THE Racoon, which some authors have called the 

 Jamaica rat, is about the size of a small badger ; 

 its body is short and bulky ; its fur is fine, long, 

 and thick, blackish at the surface, and grey to- 



