250 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



say, they soon become familiar ; they even seem to look for 

 caresses, but do not appear capable of obedience or at- 

 tachment. They must always be kept chained up, to hinder 

 them from regaining their liberty, and returning to their 

 wild state. Captivity causes them to contract new habits, 

 but they never lose the sentiment of independence. 



The general colour of the body is a blackish-gray, paler 

 under the belly, and on the limbs, and resulting from hairs 

 ringed with black and dirty-white. The tail has five or six 

 black rings, on a ground of yellowish-white. The muzzle 

 whitish in front, has a black patch, which includes the eye, 

 and descends obliquely on the lower jaw. Between this 

 and the ear, on the cheeks and brows, the hairs are almost 

 white, very long, and directed downwards. The forehead is 

 black. On the remaining part of the muzzle, the hairs are 

 very short ; but the upper lip is furnished with long and 

 thick mustachios. All the feet are covered, but with very 

 short hairs. 



These animals have two sorts of hairs. The woolly kind 

 are deep gray, and very thick ; the silky are ringed, as we 

 have said, with black and dirty white. The covering which 

 results from this combination, is very furry and soft, which 

 must make the skin very valuable. They are found in 

 advanced latitudes in North America. Mackenzie found 

 them on the borders of the Red River, in 45° or 50° north 

 longitude. They also descend pretty far towards the south. 

 D'Azzara describes them among the animals of Para- 

 guay. 



The Racoon has been frequently brought into Europe. 

 It is a very well known animal as to organization and cha- 

 racter. But of its natural habits we know next to nothing. 

 There is a letter, addressed to Buffon, on the subject, and 

 inserted in the third volume of his supplements, quarto 

 edition, which contains some curious details ; but we know 



