76 NATURAL HISTORY. 



Indian, who could run so fast round a tree that he sometimes 

 saw his own back. 



The food of the Racoon is principally small animals and 

 insects. Oysters are also a very favourite article of its diet. 

 It bites off the hinge of the oyster, and scrapes out the animal 

 in fragments with its paws. Like a squirrel when eating a 

 nut, the racoon usually holds its food between its fore-paws 

 pressed together, and sits upon its hind-quarters while it 

 eats. Poultry are very favourite objects of its attack, and it is 

 said to be as destructive in a farm-yard as any fox, for it only 

 devours the heads of the murdered fowl. Like the fox, it prowls 

 by night. 



When taken young it is easily tamed, but very frequently 

 becomes blind soon after its capture. This effect is supposed 

 to be produced by the sensitive state of its eyes, which are 

 only intended to be used by night ; but as it is frequently 

 awakened by daylight during its captivity, it suffers so much 

 from the unwonted glare, that its eyes gradually lose their sight. 



It has been mentioned that the name in general use among 

 the Americans of the present day is " 'Coon," a word which 

 strangely contrasts with its ancient Mexican name of Cioatla- 

 macazque. Two genera are omitted. 



Sub-family c. Proci/onlna. 

 PROCYON. (Gi\ n/xwevwv, a constellation.) 



Lotor (Lat. a washer), the Racoon. 



