428 “MIMICRY” OF BASSARICYON CHAP. 
fish, and it also captures fish. Not only is this animal partially 
aquatic, but it can climb well—* they make their homes in trees, 
but carry on their business elsewhere.” The animal can be 
readily tamed, but is a tiresome pet on accourt of its insatiable 
curiosity and its skill in the use of its hands, which enables it 
to unlatch doors and generally to pry about everywhere. The 
Raccoons are mostly nocturnal creatures. 
The genus Bassaricyon* includes two species, both American, 
Bb. allent being from Ecuador, and B. gabbiw from Costa Rica. 
They have so much the aspect of a Kinkajou that a specimen, 
which arrived at the Zoological Gardens, was presented and 
entered as one of those animals. Nevertheless there are many 
differences between the two genera. The tail of Lassaricyon 1s 
Fic. 214.—Bassaricyon. essaricyon allent. x4. 
not prehensile, and the animal, as will be seen from Fig. 214, 
has a sharper snout; the brain is more like that of Bassariscus. 
The likeness to Cercoleptes can hardly perhaps be regarded as an 
example of “mimicry ” since the forms are so nearly related, and 
the advantage of such an imitation remains to be proved. The 
muzzle of Bassaricyon is grooved; the ears are fairly large; the 
soles of the feet are naked; there is but a single pair of teats. 
There are two molars and four premolars to each half jaw. 
The dorsal vertebrae are thirteen in number; nine of the 
ribs reach the sternum. The slenderness and convexity of the 
lower margin of the lower jaw, as well as the feeble angular 
process, distinguish this genus from its undoubtedly near ally 
Cercoleptes. The dental formula also is different. 
Bassariscus has a ringed tail like a Raccoon, and is also 
rrees With the Raccoon in 
cf 
c=) 
American in range; it furthermore a 
! See Beddard, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1900, p. 661, for anatomy. 
