482 PROCYONID*. PROCYONIN/E. BASSARISCUS. 



north into Mexico), the less familiar Cacamistl or Raccoon-foxes of 

 the Pacific coast, and the Pottos or Kinkajous. All these are arboreal 

 in their habits, for although they are very much at home upon the 

 ground, they pass the larger portion of their time amid the branches, 

 and make their nests, and bring forth their young in a hollow portion 

 of a tree. The PROCYONID^E is not a large family, containing, at pres- 

 ent, only a little over twenty-five species and races, of which about ten 

 belong to the Raccoons and their allies, six to the Coatis, four to the 

 Raccoon-foxes, and nine to the Kinkajous. They are all long-tailed 

 animals, the majority having this member annulated in colors of 

 strong contrast. 



Fam. V. Procyonidse. Raccoons, Coatis, 

 Kinkajous, etc. 



Head broad behind, tapering rapidly forward to a narrow muzzle, 

 which is sometimes elongate; ears moderate; feet plantigrade; soles 

 naked, skin papillose; toes free, capable of being widely spread; 

 claws curved, acute, non-retractile; tail moderately long, semi- 

 bushy, generally annulated ; body rather stout ; legs moderately long. 



Subfam. Procyoninse. 

 American species have the alisphenoid canal wanting in the skull. 



The handsome animals belonging to the first genus of the Family 

 are found in the United States on the Pacific Coast from Oregon 

 to Mexico, and also in various parts of the latter country, and are 

 remarkable for the beauty of their tails, which are bushy and broadly 

 ringed in black and white. In their structure the Raccoon-foxes are 

 apparently allied to several families, and they have been assigned to 

 various ones by different systematists, but now are generally placed 

 with Raccoons and other members of the Procyonidce. They live on 

 small birds and mammals, insects, etc., make a moss-lined nest in 

 the hollow of some tree, and have four young. The Raccoon-fox is 

 easily tamed, and makes a pleasing pet, and as it is a good ratter, 

 will soon clear a house of rats and mice. In appearance, with its 

 short head, pointed muzzle, and projecting ears, it resembles the Fox, 

 and in the loose pelage and ringed tail, the Raccoon. 



91. Bassariscus. Cacamistl. Raccoon-foxes. 



Bassariscus Coues, Science, 1887, p. 516. Type Bassaris astuta 

 Lichtenstien. 



