io8 



MAMMALS OF AMERICA 



Photograph by C. Reid 



DESERT RACCOON 



A near cousin of the Eastern species, but with paler markings 



The Desert Raccoon is the western cousin of 

 otir more famiHar friend. It is foimd from the 

 treeless wastes of Colorado to the Sierra Nevada 

 range, and varies both in color and habits to 

 some extent from the common species. The 

 heat of the sun and lack of shade have changed 

 the hue of the fur from brown or black to dull 

 gray. The animal is an inhabitant of bushy 

 retreats and holes in rocks, and seeks its food 

 along the ground. Where streams are 



encountered it is fond of fishing ; it will indeed 

 follow along water courses for long distances; 

 and it will not disdain birds as a variant from 

 its usual diet of rats, mice, frogs and insects. 

 It does not hibernate like the eastern type, as 

 the milder weather does not make such a course 

 necessary. It is by nature a night prowler, its 

 scent being so keen as to permit it to hunt its 

 prey unerringly over the desert wastes, but it 

 also roams occasionally by day. 



RING-TAILED CAT 



Bassariscus astutus { Lichtcnstcin) 



Other Names. — Civet Cat, Bassarisk, Bassaris. Ca- 

 comistl, Mountain Cat, Raccoon Fox. 



General Description. — Size a trifle smaller than 

 domestic cat. A slender graceful animal with a long 

 cylindrical tail marked by black rings alternating with 

 white. Muzzle pointed; ears rather large; pads of 

 ■feet naked, soles hairy, digitigrade. General color, 

 above huffy, tinged with black ; below white ; tail white 

 with 6 or 8 black rings. Fur fairly soft. 



Dental Formula. — Incisors,-—; Canines, — 



3—3 I- 



Pre- 



molars, — — ; Molars, =40. 



4—4 2—2 



Pelage. — Adults: Sexes similar. Above yellowish- 

 brown and gray mixed, with the long hairs black 

 tipped: below white; legs and feet like body; tail above 

 with alternate black and white bands and black tip; 

 the black does not meet on under side of tail, so 

 there is a continuous white line down the center of 

 the under side. Young: Much as adults. 



Measurements. — Length, male, 30 inches; tail, 15 

 inches; hind foot, 2^ inches; ear, lYz inches. Weight 

 2^ pounds. Female a trifle smaller. 



Range. — California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico. 



Food. — Small mammals, birds and eggs. 



Remarks. — The American Ring-tailed Cat is easily 

 distinguished from any other North American mam- 

 mal by its long annulated tail and general appearance. 

 Its closest relative, the Raccoon, is much larger and 

 has a shorter tail. The name Civet Cat applied to this 

 animal is really a misnomer, as the Civet Cats are 

 found only in the Old World, but this name has been 

 used locally in the West in place of the more proper 

 one of Ring-tailed Cat. 



Related Species 



American Ring-tailed Cat. — Bassariscus astutus 

 astutus ( Lichtenstein). The typical form as described 

 above. California, .Arizona, Texas, New Mexico. 



California Ring-tailed Cat. — Bassariscus astutus 

 relator (Baird). Darker with less gray, bufTy white 

 below. Rings on tail broader. California and Oregon. 



Texas Ring-tailed Cat. — Bassariscus astutus fiavus 

 Rhoads. Smaller; tail often completely encircled by 

 lilack rings ; blackish tawny above. Texas. 



Oregon Ring-tailed Cat. — Bassarisctis astutus orc- 

 goiius Rhoads. Dorsal region intense black ; below 

 strongly brownish-yellow. Oregon. 



