THE BASSARISK 111 



called: in Mexico, Cacomiz'tli, or in English Ca-co-mis'tle; in 

 Texas, Texas Civet Cat and Cat Squirrel; in California, 

 Mountain Cat and Ring-Tailed Cat; in Arkansas, Raccoon 

 Fox; by various scientific authors from Audubon to Allen, 

 Civet Cat, Ring-Tailed Bassaris, and Northern Civet Cat. 



Now, as to the facts regarding this pretty little creature, it 

 is not a "cat" of any kind, and there is about it not a trace of 

 "civet." Dr. Coues proposed Bassarisk as a name that was 

 appropriate and entitled to use. Let it be so called hence- 

 forth, and the misnomers relegated to obscurity, where they 

 belong. Its original Mexican name is so ill adapted to our 

 wants it never will be generally used. 



The Bassarisk is, after the true raccoon, the only animal 

 in the United States possessed of a long, bushy tail with alter- 

 nating black and white rings around it. It climbs trees, and 

 nests in hollow branches like a squirrel; it scratches and bites, 

 and catches rats, mice, and small birds like a cat; and it has 

 a many-sided appetite, like a raccoon. Its length of head 

 and body is 1G inches, tail about the same, and its general 

 color is a brownish gray. It is a night prowler, and often 

 makes its home in outbuildings and deserted ranch-houses. 

 In California it is occasionally kept in captivity by miners, and 

 is said to make a very attractive and interesting pet. 



