217 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE EACOON. 



PEOCYON LOTOR — TJESUS LOTOR. 



Characteristics. — Muzzle long and pointed, projecting be- 

 yond the lower jaw ; ears short, oval ; tail long and bushy. 

 The feet have five toes, with strong nails, which are not re- 

 tractile ; the soles of the hind feet naked. 



Description. — The body of robust build, legs of moderate 

 length. The body is thickly covered with two kinds of hair, 

 the inner being soft and of a woolly character, while the outer 

 is long and close. 



Colour. — The upper part of the body greyish, mixed with 

 black ; ears, lips, chin, dingy white ; above the eyes a light 

 grey tint prevails. A dark patch passes over the eyes and 

 nose, fading gradually ; eyes black ; on the sides and belly the 

 long hairs are dingy white. The tail has five or six black 

 rings alternating with bands of light yellowish brown. 



Size. — Length from nose to root of tail twenty-six inches ; 

 length of tail nine inches ; breadth of head four inches and a 

 quarter. 



Weight. — Averages twenty pounds. 



rpHE English fox-hunter, seeing the racoon at some 

 -*- distance, might mistake it for the ' pug ' often 

 chased over the great Leicestershire and Northampton- 



