THE RACOON. 93 
amusing animal. As it is readily tamed, although rather subject to occasional . 
inhrmity of temper, and is inquisitive, quaint, and lively withal, it is a great 
favourite with such persons as have kept it in captivity. 
The colour of this animal is rather peculiar, and not very easy to describe, 
The general tint of the body and limbs is an undecided blackish grey, the 
grey and black predominating according to the position of the observer and 
the arrangement of the fur. The hairs that form the coat of the Racoon are 
of two kinds, the one of a soft and woolly character, lying next to the skin, 
and the other composed of long and rather stiff hairs that project through 
the wool for some distance. The woolly fur is of a uniform grey, while the 
longer hairs are alternately marked with black and greyish white. Upon the 
top of the head and across the eyes the fur is of a very dark blackish 
brown ; and upon the knee-joint of each leg the fur is of a darker tint than 
on the rest of the body. The tail is rather short and bushy in character, and 
is marked with five, or sometimes six, blackish rings upon a ground of dark 
grey. 
As is indicated by the peculiar nature of its teeth, the Racoon is capable of 
feeding on animal or vegetable food, but seems to prefer the latter. Indeed, 
there seem to be few things which the Racoon will not eat. One of these 
animals ate a piece of cedar pencil which it snatched out of my hand, and 
tried very hard to eat the envelope of a letter on which I was making notes. 
Not succeeding in the attempt, it consoled itself by tearing the paper into 
minute morsels, employing teeth and paws in the attempt. It did its best to 
get a ring off my finger, by hitching one of its crooked claws into the ring and 
pulling with all its strength, which was very considerable in proportion to the 
size of the animal. Its brown eyes lighted up with animation when engaged 
in play, and it was very fond of pushing its paw through the bars of its cage, 
in order to attract attention. 
In its native state it is a great devourer of oysters, crabs, and other 
similar animals, displaying singular ingenuity in opening the stubborn shells 
of the oysters, or in despatching the 
crabs without suffering from their 
ready claws. Sometimes it is said 
to fall a victim to the oyster, and to 
be held so firmly by the closing shells 
that it cannot extricate itself, and 
perishes miserably by the rising tide. 
Its oyster-eating propensities have 
been questioned, but are now clearly 
proven. The sand and soil that 
fringe the oyster-beds are frequently 
seen to be covered with the foot- 
marks of this animal. 
It is always fond of water, drink- 
ing largely, and immersing its food, 
so as to moisten it as much as pos- 
sible. When engaged in this curious 
custom it grasps the food in both its 
fore-paws, and shakes it violently backward and forward in the water. On 
account of this remarkable habit it has been dignified with the title of 
Lotor, “a washer.” The German naturalists term it Wasch-Bdr, or Wash- 
ing Bear. 
Roving at night through the woods, and being gifted with singular subtlety 
as well as agility, it is frequently chased by the residents, who think a ’Coon 
huut to be one of the most exciting of sports. Certainly, to judge from the 
RACOO? ——{ “rvcyou Lotor.) 
