an American flesh-eating mammal, closely related to the bear. The common raccoon is about the size of a cat, and its grayish-brown fur is deemed valuable, being principally used in the manufacture of hats. This animal lodges in hollow trees and feeds occasionally on vegetables, but usually on fish and small water animals. It inhabits North America from Canada to the tropics. The agouara, or crab-eating raccoon, is found on the American continent farther south than the above species and is generally larger. There is also a Himalayan species, called the punda.