RACCOON (from American Indian aratheone, arrathkune, raccoon). A small American carni yore (Procyon lotor). closely related to the hears. The family (Proeyonidte) is American, with the single exception of the Himalayan genus .Elurus. (See PANDA.) The raccoon is to be found all over the wooded parts of temperate North Amer ica, and most of Mexico. and a second species frequents tropical America. It is about the size of a cat, but more robust in appearance, because of its long fur and the semi-plantigrade feet. The general color is a grizzle, as the grayish hairs are tipped with black; but on the nose and cheeks there are black and white patches, which, with the erect ears, give the countenance a shrewd ex pression, well ,justified by the cunning and mis chief-loving activity of the little beast. Although it spends much of its time on the ground in search of small animals, insects, and vegetable dainties, it climbs well and makes its home in the hollow of a tall tree, where it sleeps during, the day, and hibernates in the colder parts of the country. In the late summer and early fall the raccoon shows a special fondness for ripening corn. At this season also, frogs. crayfish, and wild oysters form a large part of their fare. These they open and scoop out with great dex terity. The raccoon, indeed, is as clever with its paws as a monkey. A very singular practice of the raccoon is that of washing everything it eats before putting it into its mouth. Should there
be no water at hand, the animal will go through the motions of washing it, rubbing the morsel between its hands until it considers it perfectly clean. It is indeed fond of water in every way, and is a good swimmer.
The hunting of raccoons, which usually is done with dogs, is one of the favorite American sports, especially in the Southern States. This chase is more a matter of sport than profit, although the fur of the raccoon has a considerable value. espe cially for the making of robes and drivers' over coats. The hair also is extensively used in Europe. in the manufacture of hats. South America has a similar species of raccoon (Pro cyon cancrircrus), locally called the 'crab-eater,' which is found in all parts of that conti nent east of the Andes. It takes its name from its great fondness for the land-crabs which abound in South America, and upon which it mainly exists.
Consult: Audubon and Bachman, Quadrupeds of North America (New York. 1851) ; Merriam, Mammals of the Adirandacks (New York, 1893) ; Robinson. In New England Fields and Woods (Boston, 1896) ; Ingersoll, Wild Neighbors (New York, 1897) ; Stone and Cram, American Ani mals (New York, 1902). See Plate of MINOR CARNIVORES.