100 



Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



Drawing of a "Ring-tailed cat" or Bassarisk, a fur animal said to occur in Louisiana. 



build, a sharper muzzle, a much longer tail, which is alter- 

 nated with black and white rings; its feet are not so "bear- 

 like" as are those of the 'coon, and the short claws are par- 

 tially retractile, while the ears are broad and scantily 

 haired. In size this animal can best be compared to an 

 average sized slim housecat, the body and head measuring 

 approximately 16 inches, and the length of the tail, to the 

 end hairs, is about one inch less. 



The general color of the pelage is brownish-yellow mixed 

 with gray, blending to whitish on the underparts ; the 

 ringed tail is bushy, but it is much more slender than the 

 raccoon's appendage. The Ring-tailed cat has a narrow 

 black ring about each eye, which in turn is almost sur- 

 rounded by a ring of white hairs. 



It climbs trees, nesting in hollow branches like a squir- 

 rel, and can scratch and bite and catches rats, mice, and 

 small birds just like an ordinary cat. It is supposed that 

 from such activities this animal received its most common 

 name "Ring-tailed Cat," although it is not a "cat" of any 

 kind, as it does not resemble the feline in structure or 

 habits. 



"Civet Cat," as Dr. Joseph Grinnell has pointed out,* is 

 a doubly unfortunate choice of name, first because it is in no 



•Griim.'ll, .Joseph and Stor.-i , Tracy Irwin, Animal Life in the Yos&mite, 

 p. SI. University of California. 



