Rel rit ees Gre OPN Olay IN. 
Hift, Quad, N° 178.—Smellie, v. 46.—Lrv. Mus. 
EAR. With upper jaw larger than the lower: face fharp- 
pointed, and fox-like: ears fhort and rounded: eyes large, of 
a yellowifh green; the fpace round them black: a dufky line ex- 
tends from the forehead to the nofe; the reft of the face, the cheeks, 
and the throat, white: the hair univerfally long and foft; that on 
the back tipt with black, white in the middle, and cinereous at the 
roots: tail annulated with black and white, and very full of hair: 
toes black, and quite divided: the fore-feet ferve the purpofes of a 
hand. 
Thefe animals vary in color. I have feen fome of a pale brown, 
others white. Their ufual length, from nofe to tail, is two feet: 
near the tail about one. 
Raccoons inhabit only the temperate parts of North America, from 
New England* to Florida +. They probably are continued in the fame 
latitudes acrofs the continent, being, according to Dampier, found in ° 
the ifles of Maria, in the South Sea, between the fouth point of Ca- 
lifornia and Cape Corientes. It is alfo an inhabitant of Mexico, where 
it is called Mapach |. 
It lives in hollow trees, and is very expert at climbing. Like 
other beafts of prey, keeps much within during day, except it proves 
dark and cloudy. In fnowy and ftormy weather it confines itfelf to 
its hole for a week together. It feeds indifferently on fruits or fleth; 
is extremely deftructive to fields of mayz, and very injurious to all 
kinds of fruits; loves {trong liquors, and will get exceffively drunk. 
It makes great havock among poultry, and is very fond of eggs. Is 
itfelf often the prey of Snakes §. 
& Foffilyn’s voy. 85. t Account of Florida, 50. \| Fernand. Nov. Hifp. i. 
§ Kalm, i. 97. ii. 63. 
Thofe: 
22. Raccoon, 
PrLace. 
Manners. 
