102 Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



wise related to the true Old World civets ; second, because 

 this particular mis-naming (civet) has been so universally 

 applied by trappers and dealers to the Little Spotted Skunk, 

 "Raccoon fox" is not a good name for this pretty little 

 animal, either, as there is nothing of the fox about it, 

 although the general resemblance to the 'coon is most ap- 

 parent. 



Dr. Elliot Coues once proposed for this fur animal the 

 name Bassarisk, a baptism heartily endorsed by Dr. William 

 T. Hornady, who claims that the original Mexican term, 

 Cacomiztli, is so ill adapted to our wants that such a name 

 will never be generally used. However, in the matter of 

 names, people in general pay no attention to the dictation 

 of wise scientists and contentedly go on mis-naming the 

 wild creatures without a blush or twinge of conscience, such 

 as calling the migratory thrush a "robin," persisting in 

 naming a bison a "buffalo," or referring to the little spotted 

 skunk as a "civet," and it is doubtful if this animal will 

 ever be known as a Bassarisk. 



Therefore, in all probability, the Ring-tailed Cat will re- 

 main a "cat" until the last one is gone and, if it is eventually 

 found that it really does inhabit certain sections of this 

 state, it undoubtedly will be dubbed the animal a ''Louisiana 

 Ring-tailed Cat." 



While a few Louisiana dealers receive a scattering of 

 these pelts in consignment shipments every year, it appears 

 that they are mixed with other pelts from trappers carry- 

 ing on their operations near the border of Texas. The 

 question of this animal's appearance in Louisiana can be 

 best worked out by trappers sending specimens or infor- 

 mation direct to the Department of Conservation. It is only 

 because of the allegations of a few that it does occur here, 

 and the fact that the state laws on fur animals name the 

 Ring-tailed Cat as coming within the provision of fur tax, 

 that this animal has been given a niche in this bulletin. 



