200 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [PART iv. 



Species of Mustela have been found in the Pliocene of France 

 and of South America; and Lutra in the Pliocene of North America. 



In the Miocene deposits of Europe several species of Mustela 

 and Lutra have been found ; with the extinct genera Taxodon, 

 Potamotherium, and Palceomephitis ; as well as Promcphitis in 

 Greece. 



In the Upper Miocene of the Siwalik Hills species of Lutra, 

 and Mellivora are found, as well as the extinct genera Enhydrion 

 and Ursitaxus. 



The family appears to have been unknown in North America 

 during the Miocene period. 



FAMILY 30. PROCYONIDJE. (4 Genera, 8 Species.) 

 GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The Procyonidae are a small, but very curious and interesting 

 family of bear-like quadrupeds, ranging from British Columbia 

 and Canada on the north, to Paraguay and the limits of the 

 tropical forests on the south. 



The Eacoons, forming the genus Procyon, are common all over 

 North America ; a well-marked variety or distinct species inha- 

 biting the west coast, and another, most parts of South America. 

 The genus Nasua, or the coatis (5 species ?), extends from Mexico 

 and Guatemala to Paraguay. The curious arboreal prehensile- 

 tailed kinkagou (Cercoleptes caHdivolvus) is also found in Mexico 

 and Guatemala, and in all the great forests of Peru and North 

 Brazil. Bassaris (2 species), a small weasel-like animal with a 

 banded tail, has been usually classed with the Viverridae or 

 Mustelidae, but is now found to agree closely in all important 

 points of internal structure with this family. It is found in 

 California, Texas, and the highlands of Mexico, and belongs 

 therefore as much to the Nearctic as to the Neotropical region. 

 A second species has recently been described by Professor Peters 



