HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 279 



THE RACCOON. 

 (Ursus Lotor^ .Linn. Lc Raton, Buff.) 



Is very common in the warm regions of America. 

 It is found also in the mountains of Jamaica; from 

 whence great numbers of them frequently descend 

 into the plantations, and make sad havoc among 

 the sugar-canes, of which they are particularly 

 fond. The planters consider these animals as their 

 greatest enemies, as they frequently do infinite 

 mischief in one night's excursion. They have con- 

 trived various methods of destroying them, yet still 

 they propagate in such numbers, that neither traps 

 nor fire-arms can extirpate them. 



The Raccoon is somewhat less than the badger: 

 its head resembles that of a Fox, but its ears are 

 round and much shorter, and its upper jaw very 

 pointed, and longer than the lower: its eyes, which 

 are large, are surrounded with two broad patches 

 of black: its body is thick and short, covered with 

 long hair, black at the points and grey under- 

 neath; its tail is long and bushy, and marked with 

 alternate rings of black and white; its feet and toes 

 are black. 



