THE RACOON 245 



present us respectively with three very marked distinct 

 forms, and it has been proposed to divide the whole of 

 the carnivora into these three groups, associating the 

 civets and hyenas with the cats on the one hand, and the 

 weasels and racoon group with the bears on the other. 

 But when we turn to study those Uthographs of past 

 history — fossil remains — we find apparently connecting 

 links between the dogs and the bears on the one hand, 

 and between the dogs and the civets on the other ; while 

 yet others seem to connect the civets and the weasels. 

 In this puzzling maze it seems we must provisionally 

 rest contented with the groups indicated by the study of 

 existing species, which are the only ones of which we 

 can know more than the bones and teeth. Of these the 

 dogs, cats, bears, and weasels seem each to constitute a 

 very distinct group, nor do the racoons really resemble 

 the bears, except in the number of their blunt or tuber- 

 cular grinders, while the civets and hyenas do approach 

 the cats. Thus we find the racoon to be a type of a 

 very small independent group of beasts of prey, standing, 

 as it were, in the midst of the dogs, cats, weasels, and 

 bears, without showing a decided and unmistakable 

 afiinity with any one of them. As to its special relation- 

 ship with extinct forms of life, as yet we know too little 

 to venture upon any afiirmation. 



