062 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON BASSARICYON ALLENI. [June 19, 



appeared to be an instance of the phenomenon known as mimicry. 

 It seems to be more likely due to nearness of relationship, com- 

 bined with a similar mode of life. Besides the external characters, 

 Mr. Thomas described and figured the skull of the animal ; I shall 

 return to his descriptions later. 



The genus Bassaricyon was first made known by Mr. Allen, who 

 figured the skull of B. gabbi \ 



This species has been lately re-investigated by M. Huefc 2 , who 

 figured the external characters as well as the skull ; the latter was 

 naturally especially compared with that of the Kinkajou. I am 

 not myself acquainted with the skin of this species ; but if M. Huet's 

 figure really represents the appearance of Bassaricyon gabbi, then 

 that species is very different indeed from Bassaricyon alleni, and 

 not in the least like Cercoleptes. The skulls of two individuals are 

 figured, the one being that of a young animal, the other of an 

 older specimen. 



In the Proceedings of this Society for 1885, Dr. Mivart summed 

 up what was known about the animal at that date 3 . Dr. 

 Mivart pointed out that " the skull is more like that of Procyon 

 and Nasua than of Bassaris." An important point ascertained by 

 the same author was that " a cast of the inside of the skull shows 

 that the brain possesses an Ursine lozenge." 4 This point alone 

 would serve to refer the animal without any doubt to the Arctoid 

 division of existing Carnivora, a conclusion to which other ana- 

 tomical facts lead. It will be seen later that I am able to confirm 

 this statement by an examination of the actual brain. 



External Characters. 



I have made the following measurements of the animal, after 

 preservation in spirit. 



Extreme length of body (measured along the 

 curve of the back) from snout to root 



of tail 17 inches. 



Length of tail ! 10£ „ 



Length of fore limb 6^ „ 



Length of hind limb 9 „ 



Length of ear 1 1 „ 



As to the colour of the fur I have nothing to add to Mr. Thomas's 

 remarks, except to say that the specimen studied by myself was 

 darker. I agree with him that the tail offers no evidence of being 

 prehensile. 



1 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1876, p. 21, pi. i. ; and Bull. U.S. Geol. 

 Survey, v. p. 169. 



8 " Note sur les Carnassiers du genre Bassaricyon," Nouv. Arch. Mus. Paris 

 (2) v. p. 1. 



3 " On the Anatomy &c. of the Arctoidea," P. Z. S. 1885, p. 363. 



4 " Notes on the Cerebral Convolutions of the Carnivora," Journ. Linn. Soc, 

 Zool. six. p. 13. 



5 The tail was defective ; I consider that about one inch is missing. 



