94 RACOON.

great a dislike to acids.

Captivity, however, produces considerable changes in
the habits of the racoon; for instead, as in a state of
nature, of sleeping during the day, and roaming about
at night in search of food, it will learn to be active
during the day, and to remain quiet at night. In eating
it commonly sits on its hind legs, and uses its fore
feet like a squirrel. One of its most marked peculiar-
ities, and on which its specific name of Jlotor, or the
washer, is founded, is its habit»of plunging its dry food
into water before eating it. It is extremely expert in
opening oysters, on which, as well as crabs, it frequently
feeds. Although, when tamed, it is noted for its active
and playful habits, it is capricious, and not easily recon-
ciled when offended. In its wild state it generally
inhabits the hollows of trees; but when domesticated, it
shews no particular inclination for warmth. When in-
clined to sleep, it rolls itself up into a kind of ball;
and in this position it sleeps so profoundly, as not to
be easily disturbed.