BASSARICYON. 489 



widest posteriorly; palate flat, long, and broad, with an azygos 

 process in center of the arch ; paroccipital and mastoid processes only 

 slightly developed; molar depressed and expanded outwardly, form- 

 ing a triangular plane beneath the orbit; zygomata widely expanded, 

 the outer border nearly on a line with the skull's axis; nasals broad, 

 rather short ; mandible is nearly straight on inferior outline ; coronoid 

 process with the anterior border straight, its apex pointed; teeth 

 similar to those of Procyon, but the canines are smaller, and the molars 

 shorter; the last upper molar being subtriangular, with rounded inner 

 and posterior outer angles. 



483. gabbi (Bassaricyon}, Allen, Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien. Phil., 1876, 



p. 20, pi. i. 

 GABB'S COON. 



Type locality. Costa Rica. 



Genl. Char. Those of the genus. 



Color. Unknown. 



Measurements. Skull: total length, 77.5; greatest width, 48.7; 

 at mastoid processes, 33.2; interorbital width, 15; basal length, 73.7; 

 length of upper molar series, 23 ; of lower molar series, 23.7 ; length of 

 mandible, 55. 



The animals contained in the next genus are so well known that 

 they can be dismissed in a few words. The common species, P. lotor, 

 is the type, and is a rather clumsy creature, stoutly built and slow of 

 movement, with a thick, coarse coat of moderately long hair. It is 

 omnivorous, feeds upon everything it can masticate, is strictly noc- 

 turnal, and is fond of resorting to the banks of lakes and streams. It 

 is a good swimmer and expert fisher, and secures its finny prey by 

 snatching it out of the shallows. The Raccoon hibernates in the 

 hollow of a tree trunk or of some dead limb, where it passes the 

 severest winter months, and the young are born in the spring, usually 

 four or six in number. Coons are cleanly in their habits, and wash 

 everything before eating, even shell-fish being so treated. It is a 

 very cunning animal, and employs considerable strategy when 

 escaping from its enemies, and is also most inquisitive, and exceed- 

 ingly restless at all times except when asleep. There are several 

 varieties, more or less closely resembling the type, and one species 

 with shorter fur and a more slender body lives principally upon crabs, 

 and derives its trivial name from those crustaceans. 



