CHAP.x A LITTLE BROTHER OF THE BEAR 2/5 



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 



