CAHNIVORA. 223 



CRAB-EATING RACOON. 

 PLATE XIX. 



Procyon cancrivorus. 



Is the Aguarapope of the Brazilians. The fur is 

 fulvous and grey, with dirty white limbs and face, 

 the same blackish marks on the forehead, and round 

 eyes, and rings on the tail less distinct. We have 

 once met this animal in Guiana, with the fur very 

 short and close, and the tail covered with close 

 hairs; and we have another drawing of one with 

 the hair long, and even undulating like a bear's in 

 winter; the tail very bushy, and the whole pure 

 black, excepting on each side the ridge of the nose, 

 and the fore paws, which were rust colour. This 

 specimen was inferior in size to the adult cancri- 

 vorus. The Crab-eater is about 2' 6" from nose to 

 tail, the tail proportionably longer is 1' 3"; total 3 

 feet 9 inches ; and the animal is also taller, being 

 about T 3" at the shoulder. 



The species occupies all South America east of 

 the Andes, for the mammalogy to the west of that 

 chain is scanty and generally different ; it does not 

 frequent high forests, still less the plains, but trees 

 and regions along watery places. His food is pro- 



