MAMMALS URSIDAE PROCYON PSORA. 215 



PROCYON HERNANDEZII, var. MEXICANA. 



In the Report on the Zoology of the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey will be 

 found the description of a very light colored Procyon, collected by I)r. Kennerly at Espia, in 

 Sonora. It is well figured and described by St. Hilaire, in the Voyage de la Venus, Zoologie, 

 I, 1855, 25 ; tab. vi, from a specimen collected at Mazatlan. The general markings are as in 

 P. lotor, but the tints are very much paler, the long hairs being tipped with dark reddish 

 brown, instead of black. The feet are whitish above, the hinder ones with a tinge of chestnut 

 on their outer portion. The tail has six distinct annulations of purplish chestnut, besides the 

 tip ; the intervals rusty whitish, a little larger than the dark rings. 



In pattern of coloration, this specimen agrees exactly with P. hemandezii, as well as in the 

 long hind feet ; it is only necessary to suppose a skin of this species bleached throughout to a 

 certain degree to present the general characters described above. I therefore, without hesita 

 tion, consider it a local variety of the P. hemandezii. 



PROCYON PSORA, Gray. 



Procyon psora, GRAY, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 1842, 261. IB. Voyage of Sulphur, 1844, 32; pi. xi, (skin,) xvii, 

 f. 1, 2, 3, (skull.) 



The Procyon psora of Gray, based on a specimen brought from the Sacramento river, by 

 Belcher, resembles in some respects the specimen described as above, from Sonora. The descrip 

 tion is, however, not sufficiently perfect as to admit of a minute comparison. The colors, judging 

 from the figure are quite similar ; the black patch of the cheek, however, is smaller, and only 

 involves the lower half of the eye ; nor does there appear to be any dusky on the upper part of 

 the muzzle. There is a yellowish tinge to the fur, due, possibly, to immersion in alcohol. The 

 upper surface of the hind feet is whitish ; the tail is reduced to a mere stump, and is probably 

 broken off. Further specimens from California may show whether this is more than a mutilated 

 variety. The small cheek patch and the rudimentary tail differ from the normal condition of 

 other North American species ; in the former respect resembling the P. cancrivorus. The 

 dimensions given are as follows : head and body, 27 inches ; tail, 3 ; hind foot, 4^ ; skull, 5 

 inches long, 3^ broad. 



Upon the whole, I am inclined to consider the P. psora as essentially the same with the 

 Sonora specimen, with only a smaller cheek patch; and both of them varieties of P. hemandezii. 



