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THE RACCOON *. 



The Raccoon is a native of North America, and 

 several of the West India Islands, where it is said 

 to inhabit the hollows of trees. Its colour is grey ; 

 and its head is shaped somewhat like that of a Fox, 

 The face is white ; and the eyes, ^^ hich are large, are 

 surrounded with a black band, from which a dusky 

 stripe runs along the nose. The tail is very bushy, 

 and is annulated with black. The back is somewhat 

 arched ; and the fore-legs are shorter than the others. 

 The length of the Raccoon is about two feet, from 

 the nose to the tail ; and the tail is about a foot 

 long. 



Its food consists principally of maize, sugar-canes, 

 and various sorts of fruits. It is also supposed to de- 

 vour birds, and their eggs. When near the shores, 

 the Raccoons live much on shell-tish, and particu- 

 larly on Oysters, We are told, that they will watch 

 the opening of the shell, dextrously put in their paw, 

 and tear out the contents; sometimes liowever the 

 oyster suddenly closes, catches the thief, and detains 

 him, till he is drowned by the return of the tide. 

 They feed likewise on Crabs ; in the taking of which 

 they exhibit much cunning, Brickell, who relates 

 these circumstances, says, that the Raccoon will 

 stand on the side of a swamp, and hang its tail over 

 into the water ; which the Crabs, mistaking for food. 



• Synonyms. — Ursus Lotor. Livii. — Mapacli. I'a?: — Lc Katon. 

 BuJJ'on. Raccoon. Pcnyi.-^S/tatv's Gen. Zool. pi. 10i>. 



