252 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



A small variety of the Racoon, with brown throat, is also 

 mentioned in the same catalogue. 



The White Badger of Brisson is likewise considered as 

 a variety of the Racoon. 



The scientific name (Ursus Lotof) given by Linnaeus 

 to the Racoon, is from its habit, which we have men- 

 tioned, of plunging every article of its food, if possible, into 

 water. 



The Crab-Racoon, (Procyon Cancrivorus,) is an inhabi- 

 tant of South America, and is treated, by Cuvier, as dis- 

 tinct from the last, though they appear to have been much 

 confounded. It is a little larger than the latter, but the 

 tail, in proportion, is much shorter. It is of an uniform 

 clear ash-brown colour, or, as Buffon states it, yellow 

 marked with black and gray, the black prevailing on the 

 head, neck, and back, and the yellow being almost unmixed 

 on the sides of the neck and body ; the end of the nose is 

 black ; a blackish-brown band surrounds the eyes, stretch- 

 ing almost to the ears, passing over the muzzle, and uniting 

 at the summit of the head. The inside of the ears is 

 furnished with whitish hairs, and a whitish band passes 

 above the eyes, and there is a white spot on the middle of 

 the forehead ; the cheeks, jaws, under part of the neck, 

 breast, and belly, are yellowish white ; the tail is annulated 

 with six black rings, the intervals between which are yel- 

 low mixed with gray and black. 



The habits of this species are similar to those of the last. 

 It feeds very much on Crustacea and mollusca, whence it has 

 received the epithet by which it is distinguished, though 

 it may be observed that the other species is also fond of 

 this kind of food, and probably to the same degree. 



It is an inhabitant of South America. 



Shaw observed that, according to Linnseus, the Racoon 

 has a wonderful antipathy to Hog's bristles, and is much 



