274 
CRAB-EATING RACCOON. 
food, perhaps, to an extent that is almost surprising, so that their tracks 
can be seen in great numbers in various places, as, even in the dry season, 
the peculiar tenacity of the soil retains the impression made by their feet, 
almost as if it were the moulding-sand of the founder. 
They are, however, very often observed near the water-courses, are fond 
of frogs, fish, &c., and their tracks are most likely to be seen in the neigh- 
bourhood of streams, even when they are partially dried up, and present 
only a water-hole here and there. 
We have no further knowledge of the habits of this species than the 
information given in the works of Buffon, Schomburg, D’Azara, Reng- 
gek, Wagner, and the Prince of Neuwied. In Guiana it is found on the 
sea-coast ; in Brazil and Paraguay, in the bushes and forests, near the 
rivers and lakes. Besides crabs, it eats birds, eggs, fruits, and is espe- 
cially fond of sugar-cane. In two individuals that had been tamed, 
Rengger did not observe the peculiarity that they dipped their food in 
the water. Schomburg (Ann. Nat. Hist., iv. 434), however, mentions 
this habit of others which he saw. 
In giving this account of the Crab-Eating Raccoon, we are not entirely 
without some doubts as to whether the animal found in Brazil and other 
parts of South America, may not be different from the one in Mexico, 
Texas, and California. We have, however, inclined to the conclusion that 
they are the same species, and this the more readily, as the Common 
Raccoon (P. lotor) has a range from Texas to quite a high northern 
latitude. 
geographical distribution. 
Prom South America, beyond the tropic, to the shores of the Gulf of 
Mexico, and on the west as far as California, this species is distributed, 
but is probably most abundant within the tropics. Wagner states that 
it is found from the Caribbean Sea to the 26th parallel of south latitude ; 
Buffon and Sciiomburg inform us it exists in Guiana, and we learn from 
Prince Neuwied that it inhabits Brazil ; while Rengger and D’Azara 
mention its occurrence in Paraguay. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
The figure of the Crab-Eating Raccoon, given in our plate, was made 
by J. W. Audubon in the British Museum, from a specimen procured in 
Mexico or California. 
Our description was taken from another specimen in the Charleston 
