2904 WILD NEIGHBORS CHAP. 
pond —are often kept captive, and make interest- 
ing pets. They must be kept chained, however, 
or they will wander away and forget to return; 
and also because of their mischievous pranks. 
They grow slowly, and change from the summer 
to winter pelage by the loss of the under-fur in 
tufts, replaced by longer hair than forms the warm- 
weather coat. They are not only intelligent, but 
show marked love of companionship, a pair getting 
on together most lovingly, missing each other very 
decidedly when separated, and exhibiting some 
affection for their master. This, however, seems 
to depend, as it should, upon the animal’s appre- 
ciation of kindness, for an abusive person will ex- 
cite an undying enmity. Godman found that the 
common fear of their biting was not justified by 
their disposition, those he kept being entirely harm- 
less even to little children; but they always in- 
stinctively bite when suddenly hurt, as might often 
happen froma careless child. He mentions that 
his young raccoons would spring in a fury and bite 
at the leg of a table or corner of a door against 
which they had knocked themselves in their play. 
Dr. Godman’s account contains many other inter- 
esting and suggestive particulars as to their habits. 
Another excellent history of pet raccoons is con- 
tainedin Merriam’s ‘‘ Mammals of the Adirondacks,” 
showing among other things their innate inquisi- 
tiveness and propensity for mischief, so that it will 
not do to give them the liberty a pet skunk enjoys. 
