74 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
the great numbers of injurious and destructive insects he 
consumes. He is also said to catch frogs with considera- 
ble address, by slily creeping up, and then springing on 
them, so as to grasp them with both paws. 
The circumstance which has procured for the Raccoon 
the specific name of “ Lotor,” or the Washer , is very 
remarkable and interesting: this is, the habit of plunging 
its food into water, as if for the purpose of soaking 
or cleansing it. To account for this disposition, some 
naturalists have supposed that the Raccoon is not as libe- 
rally supplied with salivary organs as other animals, and 
is therefore obliged to prepare its food by softening it in 
water. The Raccoon, however, does not invariably wait 
to subject his food to this preparation, but frequently 
devours it in the condition he receives it, although it may 
be nothing but dry bread, and clean water be within a 
few steps of where he stands. 
Water seems to be essential to their comfort, if not of 
absolute necessity for the preparation of their food. I 
have had for some time, and at the moment of writing 
this have yet, a male and female Raccoon in the yard. 
Their greatest delight appears to be dabbling in water, of 
which a large tub is always kept nearly full for their use. 
They are frequently seen sitting on the edge of this tub, 
very busily engaged in playing with a piece of broken 
china, glass, or a small cake of ice. When they have any 
substance which sinks, they both paddle with their fore- 
feet with great eagerness, until it is caught, and then it is 
held by one, with both paws, and rubbed between them; 
or a struggle ensues for the possession of it, and when it 
is dropped the same sport is renewed. The coldest wea- 
ther in winter does not in the least deter them from thus 
dabbling in the water for amusement; nor has this action 
much reference to their feeding, as it is performed at any 
time, even directly after feeding, till satiated. I have 
frequently broken the ice on the surface of their tub, late 
at night, in the very coldest winter weather, and they have 
both left their sleeping place with much alacrity, to stand 
paddling the fragments of ice about, with their fore-legs in 
the water nearly up to the breast. Indeed, these animals 
have never evinced the slightest dislike to cold, or suffered 
in any degree therefrom: they have in all weathers slept 
in a flour-barrel thrown on its side, with one end entirely 
open, and without any material of which to make a bed. 
They show no repugnance to being sprinkled or dashed 
with water, and voluntarily remain exposed to the rain or 
snow, which wets them thoroughly, notwithstanding their 
long hair, which being almost erect, is not well suited to 
turn the rain. These Raccoons are very fond of each 
other, and express the greatest delight on meeting after 
having been separated for a short time, by various move- 
ments, and by hugging and rolling one another about on 
the ground. 
My Raccoons are, at the time of writing this, more than 
a year old, and have been in captivity for six or eight 
months. They are very frolicsome and amusing, and 
show no disposition to bite or injure any one, except when 
accidentally trodden on. They are equally free from any 
disposition to injure children, as has been observed of 
other individuals. W e frequently turn them loose in the 
parlour, and they appear to be highly delighted, romping 
with each other and the children, without doing any injury 
even to the youngest. Their alleged disposition to hurt chil- 
dren especially, may probably be fairly explained by the fact 
above mentioned, that they always attempt to bite when 
suddenly hurt, and few children touch animals without 
pinching or hurting them. They exhibit this spirit of re- 
taliation, not only to man, but when they accidentally hurt 
themselves against an inanimate body; I have many times 
been amused to observe the expression of spite with which 
one of them has sprung at and bit the leg of a chair or 
table, after knocking himself against it so as to hurt some 
part of his body. 
These animals may be tamed while young, but as they 
grow to maturity, most generally become fierce and even 
dangerous. I have had one so tame as to follow a servant 
about through the house or streets, though entirely at 
liberty; this was quite young when obtained, and grew so 
fond of human society as to complain very loudly, by a 
sort of chirping or whining noise, when left alone. Nothing 
can possibly exceed the domesticated Raccoon in restless 
and mischievous curiosity, if suffered to go about the house. 
Every chink is ransacked, every article of furniture ex- 
plored, and the neglect of servants to secure the closet- 
doors, is sure to be followed by extensive mischief, the 
evil being almost uniformly augmented by the alarm 
caused to the author of it, whose ill-directed efforts to 
escape from supposed peril, increase at the same time the 
noise and the destruction. 
To complete the history of the Raccoon in a state of 
captivity, we shall insert here the greater part of a letter 
written by Mr. Blanquart de Salines to Count de Buffon, 
on the correctness of which full reliance may be placed. 
“ My Raccoon was always kept chained before he came 
into my possession, and in this captivity he seemed suffi- 
ciently gentle, though not caressing; all the inmates of the 
house paid him the same attention, but he received them 
differently; treatment he would submit to from one person, 
invariably offended him when offered by another. When 
his chain was occasionally broken, liberty rendered him 
insolent; he took possession of his apartment, suffering no 
one to approach him, and was, with difficulty, again con- 
