MAMMALS URSIDAE-—PROCYON LOTOR. 
211 
nape the subterminal annulus is rusty yellowish, and the basal light portion is wanting. On 
the sides of the shoulder the hairs are whitish, with short dusky tip. The hair in the annuli 
of the tail are nearly concolored throughout. The under fur is of a light sooty tinge, which is, 
however, much darker on the hind legs. 
The preceding description may he considered as illustrating the average characteristics of the 
raccoon as found in the eastern States, based on skins from Washington. There are some vari¬ 
ations in specimens which will be briefly noticed. Another from the same locality is consider¬ 
ably darker ; the tips of the long hairs being quite black and more extensively colored on the 
sides of the body. On the side of the shoulders, on the contrary, they are entirely hoary white. 
The alternating rings on the tail are larger and better defined; there are only four well defined 
dark ones, and an obscure basal fifth; the terminal black tip is quite inconspicuous, and appears 
as if enveloped by the succeeding whitish ring. The upper surface of the paws is dirty grayish. 
A third specimen, likewise from Washington, is much larger than the others, and the tail is 
proportionally shorter. There is a preponderance of gray on the forehead, and the cheek patch 
appears somewhat reduced. The paws are entirely of a dull whitish. 
Specimens from St. Simon’s island, Georgia, exhibit much black on the back and sides. One 
skin from North Carolina is entirely white, the tendency to albinism being greater in this than 
in almost any other native animal. 
General dimensions . 
Washington, D. C. 
Fresh specimen, 
National Institute. 
No. 1067. 
1 
No. 1149. 
A. 
B. 
c. 
Nose to occiput _____ 
Inches. 
5 
Lines. 
3 
Inches . 
5 
Inches . 
5 
Inches. 
6 
Inches. 
5i 
Inches. 
5 
eye. - . . . . .. 
2 
3 
ear ...... 
4 
3 
root of tail...___..._ 
22 
3 
23 
22$ 
30 
20 
25 
end of outstretched hind legs __ 
32 
3 
Tail, from root to end of vertebra?__...... 
10 
6 
si- 
io 
7 
9 
n 
a 
10 
hairs ....._... 
12 
6 
Si 
11 
12 
Ears, height, posteriorly ..............._ 
2 
6 
anteriorly __......_... 
2 
3 
2 
2 
2 
n 
2* 
internally above skull ...._ 
2 
width__......._..... 
1 
9 
Arm, between claws across shoulder_.... 
27 
length of fore arm.. 
4 
10 
from elbow to end of claws .... 
6 
10 
fore feet to end of claws.... 
2 
8 
H 
H 
H 
1-h 
longest claw..... 
6 
Leg, from knee joint to end of claws.. 
8 
9 
tibia....... _ .. 
6 
hind foot from heel to end of claws .... 
4 
4 
3| 
4* 
longest claw........... 
6 
1 
