296 WILD NEIGHBORS . CHAP. 



hairs. The under parts are of a similar gray, 

 without the black tips, and, like the rest of the 

 body, allow the dull sooty brown under-fur to show 

 through. The upper surfaces of the feet are 

 whitish, the hind feet being about 4 inches in 

 length, and the fore feet 2} inches. The brush of 

 the tail is nearly uniform in diameter (2.] to 3 

 inches) throughout, only the end being rounded 

 off. It has five distinct black rings, separated by 

 grayish rusty intervals of about the same width, 

 and the tip is black. The face shows a large 

 oblique black patch on each cheek, continuous 

 with paler ones beneath the jaws, and others be- 

 hind the ears, which are whitish ; this gives a 

 spectacled appearance to the front face. The 

 muzzle is naked and flexible. Specimens have 

 been seen nearly black all over, and albinos are 

 not infrequent. 



The pelt of the raccoon is a valuable object 

 when taken in cold weather, when the animal is 

 in good condition. The fur is thick and warm, 

 and the skin very durable. Hence it is in large 

 demand in Canada and northern Europe for mak- 

 ing coats, such as are worn by drivers and others 

 that can afford something a little better than the 

 sheepskin of the Russian peasant. North America 

 furnishes half a million skins a year, nearly all 

 of which are trapped in the region of the Great 

 Lakes. The hair has been famous for felting 

 purposes ever since the little beast became known 



