CAPTURE OF ANIMALS. 51 



as sixty degrees. The Crab-eating species is found from Cal- 

 ifornia and Texas to the 26th degree of south latitude. 



The Common Raccoon is the one of principal interest to 

 the trapper and fur-dealer. Its body is about two feet long, 

 and is thick and stout like the badger's. Its head resembles 

 that of the fox. Its tail is about a foot long, large, and 

 bushy. The color of the whole is grayish white, streaked 

 and barred with darker colors. In some of the Western 

 States the Raccoon is of altogether a darker color, sometimes 

 approaching to black. The Raccoon is nocturnal and omnivo- 

 rous in its habits, and hibernates like the bear. It feeds on 

 nuts, green corn, eggs, mice, frogs, turtles, fish, shell-fish, 

 birds, &c., and frequently makes havoc in the poultry-yard. 

 It is an excellent swimmer, and is fond of rambling about 

 small streams and marshes in search of frogs, shell-fish, and 

 turtles. It is also a good climber, and generally lives and 

 rears its young in the hollow of a tree, with the entrance at 

 a considerable height from the ground. Its breeding season 

 is in April or May, and from four to six young are brought 

 forth at a time. 



Raccoons are sometimes taken by secreting traps in the 

 paths which they make into corn-fields. Or traps may be set 

 by the side of streams where they resort. In this case they 

 should be baited with fresh fish ; or, as some prefer, with salt 

 cod-fish, roasted to give it a strong smell. They are not very 

 cunning ; and with their acute sense of smell, and their keen 

 appetite for such provender, they rarely pass a trap thus baited 

 without being taken. 



THE BADGER. 



This animal also belongs to the bear family. It is found 

 in America, Europe, and Asia. Four species are recognized : 

 the American Badger, the common Badger of Europe, the 

 Indian Badger, and the Anakuma Badger of Japan. The 

 European species is the most important in the fur-trade, fur- 

 nishing 53,000 out of the 55,000 skins which annually find 

 their way into the fur-markets. 



Though spread over a large portion of the globe, the 



