76 THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
below the eyes. The rest of the hair between the eyes, 
the ears, and eye-brows, is almost entirely white, and di- 
rected downwards. The hair on the muzzle is usually 
very short; on the feet also, and on one half of the legs; 
the short hair of the feet and legs is of a dirty whitish 
colour. The whiskers on the upper lip are long and 
strong. 
All the feet have five toes each, terminated by strong 
curved and pointed claws; and each foot is furnished 
with five thick and very elastic tubercles beneath. The 
first toe or thumb of the fore-foot is the shortest of all; the 
little or external finger is next in length, and then the fore 
finger: the remaining two are equal. The first tubercle, 
which is a very strong one, is situated near the wrist; the 
second is at the base of the little finger; the third at the 
root of the inner finger or thumb; the fourth opposite the 
second digit, and the fifth opposite the two longest. The 
hind-feet are throughout similar, except that the first tuber- 
cle is farthest distant from the heel. 
The Raccoon has a gland on each side of the anus, which 
secretes a strong scented fluid; but this does not impart an 
unpleasant smell to the animal. Its liver has five lobes, 
and is provided with a large gall-bladder; the bowels have 
no ceecum, and the stomach, which is situated entirely on 
the left side, is elongated and small, compared with the 
size of the animal. 
The pelage of the Raccoon is subject to considerable 
variations of colour at different periods of life, and in dif- 
ferent individuals. The rings on the tail, and the patches 
around the eyes are, however, uniform and constant. The 
tail of the Raccoon is not affected by the coldest weather; 
hence this quadruped is never known to gnaw his tail, as 
has been observed of animals closely allied to it in configu- 
ration and habits. 
The fur of the Raccoon forms an article of considerable 
value in commerce, as it is largely employed in the fabri- 
cation of hats. Vast numbers of Raccoon skins are col- 
lected by the different fur companies; and we occasionally 
see in our furrier shops, skins which must have belonged 
to individuals of much larger size than those from which 
the measurements have been hitherto taken. 
Raccoons are found throughout the whole of North 
America, and they still continue to be numerous in many 
of the well peopled parts of the United States. Occasion- 
ally their numbers are so much increased as to render them 
very troublesome to the farmers in the low and wooded 
parts of Maryland, bordering on the Chesapeake Bay. 
Their season of sexual intercourse begins in the first week 
of March; the female usually produces two or three cubs 
at a litter; her den is then made in some hollow tree, or 
very secure situation. —Gopman. 
THE HORSE. 
[Continued from page 33.] 
The East Indian Horse. 
‘We will now travel further eastward, and look at the 
breeds of Horses in the Indian possessions. First, we have 
the Toorky, originally from a Toorkoman and a Persian, 
beautiful in his form, graceful in his action, and docile in 
his temper. It is said that, when skilfully managed, the 
grandeur and stateliness of his carriage are equal to what 
the warmest imagination can conceive of the Horse: his 
spirit rising as his exertions are required, he exhibits to 
his beholders an appearance of fury in the performance of 
his task, yet preserving to his rider the utmost playfulness 
and gentleness. 
Next comes the Jranee, well limbed, and his joints 
closely knit, and particularly powerful in the quarters, but 
with scarcely sufficient spirit, and his ears large and 
loose. 
The patient and docile Cozakee is deep in the girth, 
powerful in the fore-arm, but with large head, and sadly 
cat-hammed; hardy, and calculated for long journeys and 
severe service. 
The Mojinniss have spirit, beauty, speed, and perseve- 
rance. 
The Tazsee is slight, hollow-backed, and, for that rea- 
son perhaps, although deficient in strength, and leaving as 
it were his hind-legs behind him, and likewise irritable in 
temper, yet sought after on account of the peculiar easiness 
of his pace. 
A sale of Horses near the Company’s stud, at Hissar, is 
thus described by an excellent judge. ¢ Not less than one 
thousand Horses were shown. They were all above four- 
teen hands and a half in height, high-crested, and showy- 
looking Horses. The great defect seemed a want of bone 
below the knee, which is indeed general to all the native 
Horses throughout India: and also so great a tendency to 
fulness in the hock, that, in England, it would be thought 
half of them had blood spavins.’ 
The Chinese Horse. 
This breed is small, weak, ill-formed, without spirit, 
and altogether undeserving of notice. 
The Persian Horse. 
Returning westward we find the Persian next in estima- 
tion, and deservedly so, to the Arabian. The head is 
almost equally beautiful, the crupper superior; he is equal 
