60 THE WONDERS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



Before it came into his possession, it had always been chained. In this state of captivity it was 

 always very gentle, but exhibited little attachment to any one. The chain of this raccoon was some- 

 times broken, and on such occasions liberty rendered him insolent. He took possession of an apart- 

 ment which he would allow no one to enter, and it was with some difficulty that he could again be 

 reconciled to bondage. When permitted to be loosened from confinement, however, he would express 

 his gratitude by a thousand caressing gambols. But this was by no means the case when he effected 

 his own escape ; he would then roam about sometimes for three or four days together upon the roofs 

 of the neighbouring houses ; descend during the night into the court-yards, enter the hen-roosts, 

 strangle all the poultry, and eat only their heads. His chain rendered him more circumspect, but by 

 no means less cruel. When he was in confinement, he employed every artifice to make the fowls grow 

 familiar with him ; he permitted them to partake of his victuals, and it was only after having inspired 

 them with the greatest notions of security that he would occasionally venture to seize one of them and 

 tear it in pieces. Some young cats met with a similar fate. 



He used to open oysters with wonderful dexterity. His sense of touch was exquisite, for in all his 

 operations lie seldom used either his nose or his eye. He would pass an oyster under his hind paws, 

 then, without looking at it, search with his fore-paws for the weakest part of it; then sinking his claws, 

 he would separate the shells, and leave not a vestige of the fish. Whatever food he ate, he used (as 

 indeed do the whole species) to soften or rather dilute in water by immersing it in the vessel that 

 contained the water for him to drink. 



He was extremely sensible of ill-treatment. A servant one day gave him several lashes with a whip, 

 and the man could never afterwards accomplish a reconciliation. Neither eggs nor fish, of which he 

 was exceedingly fond, could appease his resentment. At the approach of this servant, he always flew 

 into a rage ; his eyes kindled, he endeavoured to spring at the man, uttered the most dolorous cries, 

 and rejected everything that was presented to him till the man went away. This animal disliked 

 children; their ciying irritated him, and he made every effort to spring upon them. A small dog, of 

 which he was fond, he chastised severely when it barked too loud. 



Briskell, speaking of the partiality of the raccoon for shell-fish, says " that it will watch the opening 

 of the shell, dexterously put in its paw, and tear out the contents ; sometimes, however, the oyster 

 suddenly closes, catches the thief, and detains him till he is drowned by the return of the tide." They 

 feed likewise on crabs, in the taking of which they exhibit much cunning. On this head the above- 

 mentioned traveller relates, " that the raccoon will stand by the side of a swamp, and hang its tail into 

 the water ; that the crabs, mistaking this for food, lay hold of it, and as soon as the beast feels them 

 pinch, he pulls them out with a sudden jerk and devours them." A species of land-crab, found in the 

 holes of the sand in North Carolina, are frequently the food of the raccoon. He catches them by 

 putting one of his fore-paws into the ground and hauling them out. The Negroes frequently eat 

 the flesh of the raccoon, and are very fond of it. 



