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72. CALIFORNIA RING-TAILED CAT. Bassariscus astutus 
raptor. 
Occasionally found in the northern part of the county. Ap- 
parently a recent immigrant from further north, as the Indians 
did not know the animal. The earliest capture that I know of 
was in 1907, at the southern foot of Palomar Mountain. 
73. SOUTHWESTERN RACCOON. Procyon psora cali- 
fornicus. 
Common from the mountains to the seacoast. 
Family URSID. Bears. 
74. CHIEF GRIZZLY. Ursus magister. 
The type of this species was killed at the head of San Onofre 
Canon, in the northwestern part of this county, in 1900. He 
was estimated to weigh 1400 pounds. This is about the largest 
species of bear known. The species is nearly or quite extinct. 
Fifty years ago they were rather common in the mountains of 
this county. 
I know of no authentic record of black bears ever having 
been found in this county. 
Family MUSTELID/E. Weasels, etc. 
This is a rather large and important family of nearly world- 
wide distribution. The fur of many species is of high quality. 
Many species are provided with large scent glands, the scent 
usually being very disagreeable. 
75. CALIFORNIA WEASEL. Mustela xanthogenys. 
Western slope of the mountains and west to the sea. Not 
common. Beneficial by destroying gophers, mice and squirrels. 
This species of Weasel seldom kills poultry and should never be 
killed except individuals known to have acquired the habit of 
killing poultry. 
76. CALIFORNIA SPOTTED SKUNK. Spilogale phenax. 
Common in the mountains, occasional on the mesas west to 
the sea. The food is mice, birds, eggs, poultry, insects and 
grubs. They are bold, having great confidence in their peculiar 
means of defense. They are good climbers and their small size 
permits them to enter squirrel holes. They destroy some poultry, 
some of this destruction being laid to weasels. It is a well estab- 
lished fact that bites of some species of skunks of this genus 
cause a form of hydrophobia, but cases of hydrophobia from 
skunk bites in California are not well authenticated. 
77. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SKUNK. Mephitis occi- 
dentalis holzneri. 
Common throughout the county. 
78. WESTERN BADGER. Taxidea taxus neglecta. 
Generally distributed. Not very common. 
79. SOUTHERN SEA OTTER. Latax lutris nereis. 
Very rare. Sometimes seen in kelp beds. 
