CARNIVORA. CANIDiE. 27 



If taken y^ung, it becomes perfectly tame and domest'rated, 

 in which state, however, it is xery uneasy if confined, which it 

 signifies by a most troublesome cry. When awake, he is always 

 in motion, and appears to be examining every thing in his way, 

 climbing chairs and tables, searching f s gar and sweet meats, 

 feeling every little thing with his paws, thrusting them into every 

 little hole it can find, and, when his curiosity is excited, taking up 

 the object with his flexible fingers, and rolling it between his hands 

 till its nature is fully ascertained. 



This animal lives in hollow trees, which it scarcely ever leaves 

 during the day ; but at twilight it goes abroad, and wanders about 

 till break of day, when it returns to its retreat. It is rare, there- 

 fore, to meet with it in open daylight. The female produces 

 from four to six at a birth, about the last of March or first of 

 April. The young do not appear to continue so long with the 

 mother as in the case of bears. The skin of the Raccoon is the 

 most valuable part ; several of them make a handsome and dura- 

 ble robe. The meat of the young is frequently eaten, and is 

 quite esteemed by some persons ; but the flavor of the old ones is 

 not such as to recommend it in civilized life.* 



FAMILY V. CANID.^E. The Dog Family. 



Characters of the family. Teeth formed entirely for eating 

 flesh. Two tuberculated teeth posterior to the large carnivorous 

 tooth in the upper jaw. This family embraces the dog, wolf, 

 fox, &c. 



Genus Canis. Lin. 



Generic characters. Dental system ; incisors £ ; canines § ; 

 molars 1| ; = 42. The first three molars in the upper jaw, and 

 the four small, edged ; the great carnivorous tooth above, bicuspid, 

 with a tubercle on the inner side ; pupils circular, diurnal ; muzzle 



* A pair, which the author had in possession for some time, and which were taken 

 quite young, not more than a week old, acquired partially the power of barking, 

 or rather their growl, when offended, was much of the nature of the bark of a 

 puppy. The inquiry which this fact suggests to me is, whether, by perfect do- 

 mestication, this animal would not fully acquire the bark of a dog, a faculty or 

 power which it is supposed the latter animal has acquired by intercourse with 

 man. 



