THE RACCOONS 



427 



molars in either half of each jaw. The carnassial teeth are not 

 tjTDically developed, and the molars are broad and tuberculate. 

 The tail is long, often prehensile, and often ringed in the dis- 

 position of its colour pattern. The alisphenoid canal is absent 

 save in the aberrant Aelurus. Both condyloid and postglenoid 

 foramina are present. The members of this family are planti- 

 grade. 



The genus Procyon includes at least two species of Eaccoon, 

 the northern form, F. lotor, and the South American, P. cancri- 

 vorus. To these may possibly be added a third, P. nigripes. 

 This genus is characterised by the length and the mobihty of 



Fig. 213. — Raccoon. Procyon loio-r. x i. 



the fingers, and indeed it u.ses its hands greatly. It has no 

 median groove upon the muzzle, which is found in many other 

 Arctoids ; the ears are moderately large ; the tail is not long, 

 being about one-third of the entire length of the animal, in- 

 cluding the tail. The soles of the feet are naked. Its limbs are 

 very long (for an Axctoid), and this gives to the animal a 

 bunched-up appearance when walking. There are four premolars 

 and two molars on each side of each jaw. There are fourteen 

 pairs of ribs, of which ten pairs reach the sternum. The latter 

 is cornposed of nine pieces. 



The first-named species has received its name from the fact — 

 of which there is abundant proof — that it dips its food into 

 water. As a matter of fact, the animal frequents the margins of 

 streams, and hunts in the shallow water beneath stones for cray- 



