cHap.x A LITTLE BROTHER OF THE BEAR 275 
it left him in the bear family, gave him a separate 
genus,— Procyon. Our common Eastern raccoon 
is Procyon lotor: another belonging to Central and 
South America is Procyon cancrivorus, —the crab- 
eater. 
According to Mr. J. A. Allen, a comparison of 
Northern with Southern specimens shows a gradual 
increase in size southward, amounting to a seventh 
or eighth of the bulk. There is also a tendency 
to an increase in the intensity of the colors in the 
same direction; and this anatomist considers that 
these variations explain away the “blackfooted,” 
“‘psora,” and two or three other nominal species 
formerly distinguished. 
Its range extends throughout the wooded parts 
of the country as far northeast as central New 
Brunswick, and northwest into northern British 
Columbia, while it occurs sparingly on the North 
Saskatchewan. 
The raccoon is one of the most thoroughly noc- 
turnal of all our mammals; and he _ hibernates 
throughout the northern part of his range, more 
or less unbrokenly, according to the weather, so 
that only those know him well, in his wild condi- 
tion, who are in the country at all seasons. Fortu- 
nately, however, he is easily trapped and makes a 
contented pet and convenient subject for study. 
This simplicity of mind, which makes him un- 
suspicious of novelties, seems to show that he is 
not entitled to all of the reputation for acuteness 
