FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Raccoons are strictly nocturnal in habit and unless disturbed 

 do not come out in the daytime. 



The flesh of young Raccoons is said to be good eating, but 

 on this point I have no personal experience. 



Family Bassariscidae. Cacomistles 



Resembling the Procyonidse in most external characters, 

 but differing in dental characters; canines rounded; incisors 

 with small secondary lobes; premolars and molars dog-like, 

 with sharp cusps; claws short, sharp, curved; digits fully 

 webbed or nearly so; feet densely haired to pads. 



Genus Bassariscus 



Dentition: Incisors, f ; Canines, {; Premolars, | ; Molars, | =40. 



Cacomistle. — Bassariscus astutus flavus 



and related forms 



Names. — Cacomistle; Cacomixtl; Ringtail; Ring-tailed Cat; 

 Civet-cat; Coon-cat; Bassarisk. Plate VI. 



General Description. — A small trim-bodied carnivore most 

 nearly related to the Raccoons but much smaller, more slender, 



Fig. 22. Cacomistle 



pelage shorter and softer, tail longer, and color pattern quite 

 different. Head small; ears large and thinly haired; body 

 slender and lithe; tail about as long as head and body, bushy; 



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