THE SAVAGE WORLD. 
615 
The Snake-eating Goat, or Markhur, is found in India and Thibet, and 
wears unusually large horns, whose convolutions are exceedingly complicated. 
The Rocky Mountain Goat ( Aplocerus montanus ) is an antelope with small, 
recurved horns, sheep-like nose, short and furry lower coat, and upper coat long 
and pendent. 
CARNIVORA.—COONS, COATIS, ETC. 
The Raccoon [Procyoit lotor ) is to those who reside in certain parts of the 
United States a familiar object. It wears a short, thick, woolly undergarment 
of gray, and an overcoat of long black and gray hairs. The top of the head 
is dark brown, and there is a 
band of the same color across 
the eyes, and the same bands 
or rings adorn the bushy tail. 
It is a common pet, but is so 
mischievous and destructive as 
sadly to try the patience of its 
owner. It is substantially om¬ 
nivorous, and will drink any¬ 
thing liquid. It has a habit of 
never eating anything without 
having first washed it, and this 
pronounced affectation of cleanli¬ 
ness has given it the name of 
lotor , or the washer. Its agility, 
subtle cleverness, abundance and 
desirability as an article of food 
(to those who like its flesh), lead 
to its being constantly hunted, 
and few boys in the Southern 
States have been without the ex¬ 
perience of “ coon hunting.” 
The raccoon hunt is not dis¬ 
similar to the “ possum hunt,” 
and is very exciting. Most com¬ 
monly the raccoon is tracked and 
treed by the dogs, and a fire 
having been built enclosing the 
tree, some one of the hunters climbs up and dislodges the game, after which 
the fun begins, and soon grows warm and furious. The least experienced dogs, 
stimulated by the presence of the rest of the pack and the shouts of the hunt¬ 
ers, will rush upon the raccoon and seize it by the nearest part of its body. 
This usually results disastrously for the dogs, as the raccoon speedily dis¬ 
courages them by the liberal use of its teeth. The alternations of fortune, 
the joy in the success of one’s favorite dog, and the no less pleasure in the 
discomfiture of the vaunted pet of some one else, keep one’s interest from 
flagging in spite of the absolute certainty of the result. 
The Raccoon Fox, Ring-tailed Raccoon, Mountain Cat, or Cacomixle, 
(Passaris astuta ), is a Mexican animal, dun in color, and wearing a dark cape on 
its neck; its back has a black stripe, and its tale is ringed with white. 
HUNTING THE MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 
