242 PROCTONII)^. 



Fam. 3. PROCYONIDtE. 



Nose short ; underside flat, with a central longitudinal groove. 

 Tail elongate. Teeth 40. 



Procyonina, Ch-ay, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 703. 



PEOCYON. 



Head broad, depressed. Ears small, ovate. Muzzle short, conical. 

 Muffle large ; under surface covered with hair, without any central 

 groove. Nostril subhorizontal, on hinder edge of muffle. Body stout. 

 Tail moderately long, black-ringed. Toes 5 . 5, front toe elongate. 

 Soles bald, furrowed, but without pads. Claws falcate. Skull short ; 

 orbit incomplete, only contracted above and below. Teeth 40 ; ca- 

 nines sharp-edged ; premolars -f-. A, three front small, conical ; hinder 

 set broad, like flesh-teeth ; flesh-teeth \, upper oblong, transverse ; 

 molars \ . \, upper ovate, transverse. 



Procyon, Storr ; G. Cumer, 1798 ; De Blmnv. Ostiogr. Subursus, t. 3 ; 

 Gray, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 703. 



Lotor, Tiedem. 



" Prefers the vicinity of running water, where bushes are thick, 

 or hollow trees, in which it makes its bed ; when pursued, it takes 

 immediately to the water, swimming with great rapidity and case. 

 The flesh is highly esteemed by the Mexicans (who call it Tejou) as 

 an article of food. It throws itself on its back in a state of defence, 

 showing its teeth in a threatening manner ; but I never heard it 

 utter any cry." — C. B:Kennerly. 



* Tail bushy, fcmr- or five-ringed; forehead of skvU high, convex; brain- 

 case moderate; palate much prodibced and narrow behind; grinders 

 moderate. Tiocjon.— Gray, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 704. 



1. Procyon lotor. (Eaccoon.) B.M. 



Tail reddish, with four or five black rings. Fur ashy, more or less 

 black- washed ; lower side, ears, and feet whitish ; oblique streak 

 Under the eye blackish ; face whitish, with a narrow streak across 

 the forehead before the eyes, becoming broader on the cheeks ; outer 

 side of the limbs and feet palish. 



Ursus lotor, Linn. S. iV. i. p. 70, 1766 ; Schreh. Sdugeth. t. 143 ; De 



Blainv, Ost6ogr. Subursi, t. 3 (skeleton). 

 Raccoon, Lawson, Carolina, p. 121, fig. ; Penn. Syn. p. 199 ; Sliato, 



Zool. i. p. 464. 

 Raton, Buffm, H. N. vii. p. 337, t. 43 ; Supp. iii, p. 215. 

 Procyon lotor, Storr, Prod. 1780 ; Besm. Mamm. p. 168 ; Fischer, 



Syn. Mamm. p. 147 : Gray, Cat. Mamm. B. M. p. 74; Gray, P. Z. S. 



1864, p. 704. 

 Meles lotor, Bodd. Elenchus. Anim. i. p. 80, 1784. 

 Lotor vulgaris, Tiedem. Zool. i. p. 380. 



Procyon piilaris, H. Smith, Jard. Cab. Lib. xiii. p. 222, 1842. 

 Procyon brach3'unis, Wiegm. Arch. iii. p. 369 ; Schreb. Suppl. 1. 143 C. 



