116 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Racoons in the Tower, and Exeter 'Change. 



There is at present (1806) a female racoon in 

 the Tower of London, where it has resided about 

 fourteen years, and is now blind with age. The 

 male which formerly shared its apartment, acci- 

 dentally got to the den of the Greenland bear last 

 year, and was devoured. 



It is generally asserted, that the racoon washes 

 irs meat: but Mr. Greenfield assures me, that 

 neither of the above animals have ever evinced 

 such an inclination. A racoon from North Ame- 

 rica is now among the animals in the menagerie 

 at Exeter 'Change, and is said to consume about 

 half a pound of raw meat per day. 



THE BADGER. 



THE general length of this animal is about 

 two feet and a half; and that of the tail, six 

 inches. Its body and legs are thick. The eyes 

 and ears are small; and the claws of the fore 

 legs long and straight. It is of a grey colon? 

 above, and in the under parts entirely black. 

 The face is white ; and along each side of the 

 head, runs a black pyramidal stripe, including 

 the eyes and ears. The hair is coarse, and the 

 teeth and claws remarkably strong. It inhabits 

 almost all the temperate parts of Europe and 

 Asia. 



The badger is naturally harmless and inoffen- 

 sive, living principally on roots, fruit, and other 



