and a half in length. It destroys numbers of small animals. Its color varies from cream to dark brown. It is very troublesome about the hunters' traps, stealing their bait, but fortunately it is rare. The Indians called it “Gwing-gwah-gay,” a tough thing. It is now unknown south of 42°, though formerly extending to Carolina.
Raccoons are found all over North America; they are about the size of the Wolverine, two or three feet in length. We saw one not long since, caught in the neighborhood, and living in a cage. Their color varies: gray, mixed with black. It has been described as having “the limbs of a bear, the body of a badger, the head of a fox, the nose of a dog, the tail of a cat, and sharp claws, by which it climbs trees like a monkey.” It is very partial to swamps. The flesh, when young, is said to taste like that of a pig. He eats not only fowls, but Indian corn, so that the farmer has no great partiality for him. The fur is valuable for hats.
There is also a sort of Marmot in this State, and quite a common animal, too: the Woodchuck, or Ground-hog; it is a social creature, laying up stores of provisions in its burrow. It is about twenty inches in length. It is a great enemy to clover, upon which it feeds. They are found alike in the forest and upon the farm, making deep and long burrows.
The Muskrat, or Musquash, is an aquatic creature, about eighteen inches in length; quite common.
The Opossum is also found within our limits, in the southern counties. It lives in trees, feeding on birds' eggs and fruits. It is nocturnal, measures about two feet in length, and is of a grayish white color. East of the Hudson it is not found.
The Porcupine is about two and a half feet in length, a gentle,
