VERTEBRATA: MAMMALIA. 741 



Peruvian and Chilian Andes, the sole representative of the Ursidcs in 

 South America. 



The family Procyonidos includes a number of small American 

 Carnivores, which are nearly allied to the Bears. The Racoons 

 (Procyon, fig. 429) are natives of tropical and northern America, 



Fig. 429. Skull of Racoon (Procyon lotor}. (After Giebel.) 



and have a decided external resemblance to the Bears. They 

 have tolerably long tails, however, and sharp muzzles. The 

 commonest species is the Procyon lotor of North America, 

 which derives its specific name from its habit of soaking its 

 food in water before eating it. The dental formula of Procyon 

 is 



. ^ 3 i i 4 4 2 2 



i 2 .-2 c : pm - * : m = 40. 



33 i -i 44 22 



The Coatis (Nasua) are very closely allied to the Racoons, 

 and are exclusively confined to the American continent. The 

 Kinkajous (Cercoleptes) are inhabitants of South America, ex- 

 tending their range northwards to Mexico, and, as is the case 

 with so many of the animals of this continent, they are adapted 

 for an arboreal life, to which end their tails are prehensile. 

 They appear to represent in the western hemisphere the 

 Lemurs of the Old World, to which they present certain points 

 of affinity. Forming a transition between the Procyonidtz and 

 the Civets (Viverridce)^ is the curious Cacomixle (Bassaris 

 astuta\ which is a native of California, Texas, and parts of 

 Mexico, and is arboreal in its habits. 



Nearly related to the preceding is the family of the sEluridce, 

 comprising the well-known "Wah" or "Panda" (^Elurusfulgens] 

 of India and Thibet, and the ^Eluropus of the latter country. 

 The former is a cat-like animal, chestnut-brown above and 



