MAMMALS OF THE REGION 105 



be hoped that some will remain here for many years to 

 come. 



The black and brown bears of this region are readily 

 distinguished from the brown grizzlies by the short, 

 sharp, front claws, and the relatively small teeth. 



MEXICAN RACCOON 



Procyon loior mexicanus 



Raccoons find an abundance of food and congenial 

 range along the Pecos and Black rivers, but rarely come 

 up to the vicinity of the great cavern. Two were 

 killed last winter on Washington's Ranch on Black 

 River just south of the cave, and tracks of others were 

 seen in the mud along the Pecos in April. They often 

 live in caves or holes in the cliffs, but rarely go any 

 great distance from open water. 



The Mexican raccoon is very similar to the eastern 

 form, but generally clearer gray in color, with the same 

 black mask across the eyes, and five black rings around 

 the furry tail. 



RING-TAILED CAVE CAT 



Bassariscus astutus flavus (Fig. 38) 



Of the few mammals that reach to the farthest ends of 

 the deepest and darkest halls of the great Carlsbad 

 Cavern and inhabit all the other numerous caves of the 

 region, the "ring-tail," as locally called, is the most 

 spectacular and interesting. This representative of the 

 raccoon family comes into the southwestern United 

 States from Mexico, and with several varieties or sub- 



