THE RACCOON. 37Q 



a whip ; but the man ever afterwards endea- 

 voured in vain to accomplish a reconciUation. Nei- 

 ther eggSj nor fish, of which he was exceedingly 

 fond, could appease his resentment. At the approach 

 of this servant, he always flew into a rage ; his eyes 

 kindled, he endeavoured to spring at the man, ut- 

 tered the most dolorous cries, and rejected every 

 thing presented to him, till the disagreeable object 

 disappeared. — He never allowed hay or straw to 

 remain in his nest ; but chose rather to lie upon 

 wood. When litter was put in, he instantly threw 

 it out. 



Every thing he ate, he used (;is indeed the whole 

 species do) to soften, or ratlier dilute, in water, by 

 immersing it in the vessel that contained the water 

 given him for drink. The defect of saliva, or hav- 

 ing but a small quantity of it, is most probably the 

 cause of his adopting this mode. This immersion 

 he only practised with dry food ; for fresh meat, 

 peaches, and raisins, he ate without it. 



He disliked children ; their crying irritated 

 him, and he made every effort to spring upon them. 

 A small Bitch, of which he was'foiid, he chastised 

 severely when she barked too load *. — According 

 to Linnc3us, the Raccoon has a wonderful antipathy 

 to Hogs'-bristles ; and is much disturbed at the sight 

 of a brush. — The female produces two voung at a 

 birth, which commonly takes place about May. 



The animal is hunted for the sake of its fur ; which 

 is used by the hatters, and is considered as next in 



• Buff. QuiiJ. V. 50. 



