PEOCYONID^ 227 



ity a mile in one direction, and another three miles in an, opposite 

 direction, a part of the route being along two small streams, 

 and a part of the remainder along a road in a forest of scattered 

 oaks growing among thick brush. Raccoons frequently hunt in 

 pairs or families in the autumn, but more often alone the re- 

 mainder of the year. 



The ordinary gait of a Raccoon is a slowi trot, and they can- 

 not run fast. They are clever hunters, and doi most of their 

 hunting on the ground, but they pass the day in hollow trees or 

 in crevices among rocks. They are expert climbers. They are 

 not difficult to trap ; a bait of fresh meat usually proves too much 

 for them. The young are probably born in April and May ; they 

 are said toi be three to six in number. 'Coons do not hibernate 

 in California, the region which they inhabit not being cold 

 enough to make hibernation necessary. I do not think they occur 

 above S,ooo feet altitude. . 



Procyon psora pacifica Merriam. 



PACIFIC RACCOON. 



Similar to psora, but darker, the ground color being darker 

 and the black tipped hairs very thick; black rings of tail not 

 broken on the under side; last premolar, first molar and audital 

 bulte larger. 



Type locality, Cascade Mountains, Washington. 



Dr. Merriam says that Pacific Raccoons are common around 

 the base of Mount Shasta. This is probably about the southern 

 limit of this form'. 



Procyon pallidus Mi;rriam. (Pallid.) 



DESERT RACCOON. 



Very pale; pattern of colors as in psora; buff tints of psora 

 replaced by grayish white; above pale gray darkened by short 

 black tips to the coarse hairs ; below grayish white, the drab un- 



