3l6 CARNIVORA. 



found to agree in all important respects with the family we are now 

 describing. They are both confined to America. 



The American Civet, Bassaris astuta, is thus described in the U. S. 

 Pacific R. R. Report : " This beautiful animal, which was formed}^ sup- 

 posed to be peculiar to Mexico and Texas, has since been found abun- 

 dantly in California. The miner calls it the Mountain Cat. It frequently 

 enters his tent and plunders his bag of provisions. When caught, as it 

 often is, it becomes so familiar and amusing, and does so much to relieve 

 the monotony of the miner's life, that it is highly valued, and commands 

 a high price. It is equally efficient as a mouser with the common cat, is 

 much more playful, and to a large number of the members of every 

 community who are cat-haters, might be a desirable substitute." It is 

 abundant in the city of Mexico, frequenting barns and out-buildings, 

 and, like the cat, ravaging pigeon-houses. The Mexican name is Caca- 

 mixtli. Prof. Baird says it looks like a mixture of the Racoon and the 

 Fox, having the tail of the former, the head of the latter ; its fur is soft, 

 and as long as a fox's, the head pointed, the eyes large, the muzzle long 

 and hairless. The color is a dark brownish-gray, with indistinct marks 

 on the neck and leg ; the tail is white, with eight black rings. It is shy 

 and retiring, and seldom goes far from the tree which holds its nest. 



A second species has recently 'oeen described by Professor Peters 

 from Coban in Guatemala, where it had also been observed by Salvia. 



THE PANDAS. 



The family of the ^Elurid.^ contains Izvo genera, of one species each, 

 and the animals comprised in it seem to have their nearest allies in the 

 Coatis and the Bears. 



The Panda, blunts fulgens (Plate XXI), appears stouter than it 

 really is, from its thick and soft fur ; the head is short and cat-like, the 

 long tail is very bushy, the ears small ; the short legs have hairy soles, 

 and short toes with semi-retractile claws. The fur is thick, soft, smooth, 

 and very long; on the upper surface of the body it is of a vivid and 

 brilliant chestnut-brown, deepening into a brilliant black on the belly 

 and legs ; on the cheeks, muzzle, and chin the hair is white, on the fore- 

 head ruddy yellow, the head fawn color, and a chestnut-brown mark 

 runs from tlie eye to the corner of the mouth, separating the white 



