198 



THE IJEARS. 



THE SMALL BEARS 



(SUBURSIDA). 



Among the American Small Bears the 

 CacamizH {Bassa/'is as/7iia), fig. 98, forms 

 such an excellent connecting link with the 

 Viverrida. that many naturalists have included 



Fig. 98. — The Cacamizli (Bassaris asluta). 



it in that family. This elegant animal, whose 

 rather slender body, pointed muzzle, tolerably 

 large ears, and ringed bushy tail remind us 

 at once of the fox and the raccoon, inhabits 

 the forests of Mexico, Southern California, 

 and Texas. The dentition has e.ssentially the 

 structure of that of a carnivore. The tubercles 

 of the molars are pretty sharp, the carnassials, 

 especially that of the upper jaw, well formed 

 and characteristic, the canines .slender and 

 sharp. There are in all 40 teeth. A certain 

 approximation to the Viverrida is seen further 

 in the fact that this genus has round the 

 anus a naked patch in which the ducts from 

 the scent-glands open. The feet have five 



toes provided with semi -retractile claws. 

 The fur, of a pretty dark gray-brown colour 

 on the back, but lighter on the under side, is 

 marked with some dark stripes on the neck. 

 The very strong and thickly-haired tail is 

 marked with alternate white and dark rings. 



The animal leads a nocturnal life, and hides 

 by day in holes in trees or clefts in the rocks 

 according as it finds opportunity, lining its 

 retreat with moss and dried leaves. It is 

 often to be found near human habitations, 

 where it hunts after birds, small mammals, 

 and insects. The Mexican name, which 

 means " squirrel- cat," indicates its habits 

 pretty well. It is an agile climber, very shy, 

 but shows a strong attachment to its nest, 

 which it defends courageously even against 

 man. When caught young it is easily tamed, 

 and makes itself useful by hunting after 

 vermin like a cat, and affords entertainment 

 and pleasure by its elegant and rapid squirrel- 

 like movements and by its lively disposition 

 and fondness for all kinds of sports. 



The Raccoons (Procyon), another American 

 genus, also have 40 teeth, but with a rather 

 different structure. The carnassials in this 

 genus can hardly be distinguished from the 

 tubercled teeth by which they are followed, 

 and if we took only the permanent dentition 

 into consideration, without paying regard to 

 the development, we might say that there 

 were in each jaw three molars with one 

 tubercle and one with several tubercles, while 

 in reality four premolars have been shed. 

 The body of these animals is short and com- 

 pact, the head broad behind and with a short 

 but pointed muzzle, the legs thin, the tail 

 pretty long and ringed. 



Three species of this genus are known, 

 but all very much alike: the Crab-eating Rac- 

 coon iyProcyon cancrivorus) of South America, 

 where it is found especially among the man- 

 grove trees on the coasts; the Mexican or black- 

 footed Raccoon i^P. Hernandczi) in Mexico 

 and Southern California; and the Common 

 Raccoon (A lotor), fig. 99, which owes its 



