430 
KACCOON, 
when they returned,, they found the greatest part 
of the pile thrown down, notwithstanding* some 
of the trees with which it was constructed were 
as much as two men could carry. The wood 
was very much scattered about ; and it was 
imagined, that in the animal’s attempting to carry 
off his booty, some of the small parcels of pro- 
visions had fallen down into the heart of the 
pile, and, sooner than lose half his prize, he was 
at the trouble of doing this. The bags of flour, 
oatmeal, and pease^ though of no use to him, he 
tore all to pieces, and scattered the contents about 
on the snow ; but every bit of animal food, con- 
sisting of beef, pork, bacon, venison, salted geese, 
and partridges, in considerable quantities, he carri- 
ed away. 
The wolverines are great enemies to the beavers* 
which they sometimes take as they come from their 
houses ; but the manner of life of the latter renders 
them more difficult to come at than many other 
animals. They commit vast depredations on the 
foxes during the summer, while the young ones 
are small. Their quick scent directs them to the 
dens ; and if the entrance be not large enough, 
their strength enables them to widen it ; when they 
go in, and kill both the mother and her cubs. 
They are, in short, nearly the most destructi ve ani- 
jrnals of the country they inhabit. 
Raccoon. 
The raccoon is a native of North America, and 
several of the ’West India islands, where it is said 
to inhabit the hollows of trees. Its colour is grey ; 
and its head is shaped somewhat like that of a fox. 
The face is white ; and the eyes, which are large, 
are surrounded with a black band, from which a 
dusky stripe runs along the pose. The tail is very 
