586 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 





^f- 



u 



H 





-<l o 



■if. 



l^ink 



AMERICAN MINK TRACKS, SHOWING VARIOUS ARRANGE- 

 MENTS AND TAIL MARKS 



The typical track of a mink is as in tlic Iwttom set at the 

 left, which also illustrates the tail mark. Twelve to twenty- 

 four inches are usually cleared at each bound. This illustra- 

 tion is greatly reduced from natural size (see opposite page 

 and pages 555 and 575). 



lost, and when the change is complete the newly 

 created armadillo enters the hole and begins 

 its new life. If skepticism is expressed as to 

 this metamorphosis, the Indians point out as 

 proof of the legend the similarity between the 

 appearance of the bald pate of the vulture and 

 that of the armadillo. 



THE RING-TAILED CAT (Bassariscus 



astutus and its relatives) 



(For illustration, see page 563) 



The mild climate and the proximity of the 

 Southwestern States to Mexico and the tropics 

 brings within our borders numerous strange 



types of wild life. Of these the 

 ring-tailed cat is one of the 

 most strikingly marked and in- 

 teresting. In the United States 

 it is known by several other 

 names, including "civet cat," 

 "coon cat," and "band-tailed 

 cat." In Mexico it still bears 

 the old Aztec name cacomixtle, 

 except in Lower California, 

 where it is the "babisuri." It 

 is about the size of a large cat 

 but with proportionately longer 

 and slenderer body, shorter 

 legs, and longer tail. The al- 

 ternating bands of black and 

 white on the tail proclaim its 

 relationship, not to the cat, to 

 which it has no kinship, but 

 to the raccoon, which has a tail 

 similarly marked. Few mam- 

 mals possess such a beautifully 

 formed head and face, and its 

 large, mild eyes give it a vivid 

 expression of intelligence. 



The ring-tailed cat occupies 

 areas under such differing cli- 

 mates as to produce geographic 

 races, but none of them vary 

 strikingly from the typical ani- 

 mal here illustrated. They 

 range from Oregon, Nevada, 

 southern Utah, Colorado, and 

 Texas south to Costa Rica. In 

 Mexico they occur from near 

 sealcvel up to an altitude of 

 about 10,000 feet. While chiefly 

 rock-inhabiting species, they 

 sometimes live in the forests 

 and as a rule make their dens 

 in caves and deep crevices, but 

 sometimes in hollow trees or 

 about houses. Their young, 

 from three to four in number, 

 are born in May or June. 



In the Southwest they fre- 

 quent some of the ruined cliff 

 dwellings, and I have found 

 them haunting many of the 

 ancient ruins of Mexico. Their 

 presence in little caves and other 

 sheltered spots along cliffs and 

 rock walls bordering canyons 

 or on mountain slopes may usually be known 

 by an examination of the fine dust which accu- 

 mulates in sheltered places. Whenever present 

 their delicate cat-like tracks will be found 

 where they have been hunting mice or otiier 

 small game. 



Strictly nocturnal, they do not_ sally forth 

 from their dens until darkness is complete. 

 During the night they are restless and fre- • 

 fluently wander far and wide in search of food, 

 and apparently at times merely to satisfy a 

 spirit of inquiry. Their inquisitive nature fre- 

 rpiently leads them to explore the streets of 

 towns and cities on the Mexican table-land, 

 filled though these places are with dogs. At day- 



^.7. S. 



