MOUNTAIN OAT. 59 



almost white. The ears are short and light in 

 colour ; they are almost devoid of hair. The whiskers 

 are sparse, and black and white. The fur is short, 

 and light grey. The ground is dark, and rather darker 

 along the back. The colour varies, however, in most 

 examples. 



The skin is of little value about 4d. to 6d., and but 

 few are imported. Sometimes a hundred or so appear 

 in the sundry lots (in 1889 624 skins) . 



It inhabits the Western and Southern parts of the 

 United States, and is sometimes called the Niagara Cat 

 or Cacomistle. 



Dr. St. G. Mivart, P.Z.S. p. 362, 1885, remarks 

 that " it lives amongst rocks and trees. It is not rare, 

 but is seldom seen, being nocturnal. It is easily tamed, 

 and even domesticated, and makes a mild, playful pet. 

 It is useful for destroying mice and rats, but is very 

 destructive to poultry, and is naturally bold. It prefers 

 to inhabit woods traversed by water-courses. It feeds 

 on small quadrupeds and birds, and makes its nest in 

 the trunks of trees, in holes from 12 to 18 inches deep 

 which are the result of natural decay. The tail is 

 carried bent over the back, much in the fashion of a 

 squirrel. It has three or four young at a birth." 



TWO- SPOTTED PAEADOXUEE. 

 Nandinia binstata. 



The Nandine, or Two-spotted Paradoxure, is a native 

 of the West Coast of Africa, and is a rather small 



