The Racoon. 51 
The ferocity of this kind of Bear is equal to its cun- 
ning. A few years since, the crew of a boat belonging 
to a ship in the whale-fishery, shot at a Bear at a short f 
distance and wounded it. The animal immediately set 
up the most dreadful yells, and ran along the ice towards 
the boat. Before it reached it, a second shot was fired, 
and hit it. This served to increase its fury. It presently 
swam to the boat; and in attempting to get on boaid, 
placed its fore foot upon the gunwale ; but one of the 
.crew having a hatchet, cut it off. The animal still, how- 
ever, continued to swim after them till they arrived at 
the ship, and several shots were fired at it, which also 
took effect; but on reaching the ship it immediately 
ascended the deck, and the crew having fled into the 
shrouds, it was pursuing them thither, when a shot from 
one of them laid it dead on the deck. 
THE KACOON. (Procyon lotor.) 
This animal is a native of America, of the bear tribe : 
in Jamaica they are very numerous, and do incredible 
mischief to the plantations of sugar-cane and Indian corn, 
especially to the latter while it is young. The Racoon 
is less than the fox in size, and has a sharp -pointed nose. 
His fore legs are shorter than the others. The colour of 
his body is grey, with two broad rings of black round 
the eyes, and a dusky line running down the middle of 
the face. In the wild state the Racoon is savage and 
sanguinary, committing great destruction among both 
wild and domesticated birds, without consuming any part 
of them except the head, or the blood which flows from 
