NATURAL HISTORY. 75 



of ice, a firm footing, the soles of its feet are thiokly covered 

 with long hair, on the same principle that elderly gentlemen in 

 the winter are forced to tie list round their shoes. 



THALARCTOS. (Gr. from OaXaoaa, the Sea, and do/crof, a Bear.) 



Maritimus (Lat. belonging to the sea), the Polar Bear. 



THE RACOON". 



The RACOON is an inhabitant of Canada and other paiis of 

 America. It derives its name, lotor, from the habit it is said to 

 possess, of washing its food before eating it. It is about the 

 size of a large fox. Its skin is very valuable, and is much 

 sought after by American hunters, who pride themselves on 

 their skill in shooting this active and wary animal. There 

 is a story related by the Americans, of a hunter who was so 

 excellent a marksman that when he entered a wood the 'coons 

 came down of their own accord, knowing that escape was im- 

 possible ; but we must class this tale with the account of the 

 man who could grin the bark off gum trees, and the swift 



