466 
RACCOON. 
its fore feet in the manner of hands. It has a 
way of dipping all manner of dry food that is 
given it into water before it eats it; as well as of 
rolling it between its pav/s for some time. When 
it kills birds, it proceeds exactly in the manner of 
a Polecat; first biting off the head, and then 
sucking out the blood. It drinks but little, and 
is a very cleanly animal. It is extremely expert 
in opening oysters, on which, as Avell as on crabs 
and various kinds of shell-fish, it frequently feeds 
in its wild state. It is, when tamed, extremely ac- 
tive and playful; but is of a capricious disposition, 
and not easily reconciled when oifendcd. When 
angry, its voice is like a hoarse bark, and at 
other times soft and sharp. In its wild state it 
generally inhabits the hollows of trees; but in a 
domestic state shews no particular inclination for 
warmth ; nor is it observed to be desirous of lying 
on straw, or any other substance, in preference to 
the bare ground. It sleeps from about midnight 
till noon, at which time it comes out for food and 
exercise. According to Linnaeus, the Raccoon has 
a wonderful antipathy to hogs' bristles, and is 
much disturbed at the sight of a brush*. It 
produces from two to three young at a birth : this 
commonly takes place in the month of May. The 
fur of the Raccoon is used by the hatters, and is 
* This particularity relative to a Raccoon kept and described 
by Linnaeus^ is, by some mistake^ applied by the Count de BufFon 
to the Coati Mondi or Viverra Nasua j and is quoted in a note 
belonging to the history of that animal in his work on quadru- 
peds. 
