RACCOON. 
465 
is annulated with several black bars : the body is 
broad, the back arched, the limbs rather short, 
and the fore legs shorter than the hinder; the 
animal is covered with thick and long hair, which 
has a somewhat upright growth: the feet are 
dusky, and have five toes with very sharp claws. 
The colour of the Raccoon, which is generally a 
dark grey, sometimes varies, and has a fulvous or 
tawny tinge, especially on the lower parts ; and a 
variety entirely of a cream-colour is mentioned by 
Mr. Pennant. The length of the animal is two feet 
from nose to tail, and the tail about one foot. The 
food of the Raccoon, in its wild state, consists 
chiefly in maize, which it eats while the ears are 
tender, as well as sugar-canes, various sorts of 
fruit, as apples, chesnuts, &c. It is also supposed 
to devour birds and their eggs, and is, therefore, 
considered as an enemy to poultry. It chiefly 
feeds by night, and by day keeps in its hole, ex- 
cept in dull weather. In winter, and in very bad 
weather, it keeps altogether within, and is popu- 
larly believed to live like the Bear, by sucking its 
paws. The Raccoon, however, is an active and 
sprightly animal when taken into a state of do- 
mestication. It has a kind of oblique gait in 
walking ; can leap and climb with great ease, and 
is very frequently seen on trees. It is easily tamed, 
and is frequently kept in houses by the Ameri- 
cans, and will live on bread, milk, fish, eggs, &c. 
It is particularly delighted with sweets of every 
kind, and has as great a dislike to acids. In eat- 
ing, it commonly sits on its hind legs, and uses 
