THE KACCOON. 



589 



Genus Pkocvon Storr. 



Pmvyon Storr. Prod. Meth. Mamm., p. 35, 1780. 



Dental formula.— I, |E^; C, ^J; Pm, JeI; M, = 40. 



Generic characters. — Body stout; head broad behind, but witli 

 a, pointed nose; legs and tail rather short, the latter cylindrical 

 and ringed Avith black and yellowish white; color always more or 

 less black (never red or brown). 



The genus has a range extending from Brazil to about 60 de- 

 grees north latitude in Canada. About ten forms occur in North 

 America and an unknown number in South America. A single 

 species is found in the eastern United States north of the Gulf 

 States. 



PROCYON LOTOR ( Linuaeus) . 

 RACCOON. 



[Ursus\ lotor Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, I, p. 48, 1758. 



Procyon lotor Evermann and Butler, Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci. for 

 1893, p. 136, 1894. 



Diagnostic characters. — Distiguished from other mammals of 

 the eastern United States by the ringed tail and pointed nose. 



Description. — General color yellowish gray, with many hairs 

 tipped with black ; the soft under fur dusky. Face yellowish white 

 with broad black streaks extending across the cheeks and including 

 the eyes, but with a yellowish spot enclosed by the black just above 

 the eyes; naked tip of nose also black. Ears yellowish, except at 

 the bases which are dusky; dorsal surface of feet yellowish; soles 

 of feet naked and dull black. Tail ringed with black and yellowish, 

 the black forming the tip. 



The above description is based on a male, scarcely mature, from 

 ^litchell. The color varies considerably and sometimes specimens 

 are nearly white while others are coal black, with perhaps faint 

 traces of a lighter color. 



Measurements. — I have no measurements of Indiana specimens 

 that are near the maximum size ; the one from ]\Iitchell, mentioned 

 above, was only a trifle over 25 inches long. Miller gives the follow- 

 ing measurements: Total length 830mm. (33 in.); tail, 250mm. 

 (10 in.) ; hind foot. 120mm. (43/4 in.). 



Skull and teeth. — The skull is rather high but smoothly rounded 

 on the dorsal surface. The palate is broad and the skull does not 

 taper as much as the pointed external form of the head might lefid 

 one to suppose. Teeth heavy ; canines proportionally smaller than 

 in the dogs and cats. 



