ZOOLOGY. 363 
much resembled a fox, except that it was smaller and more slender 
in its proportions, and it had a ringed tail as long as its body. 
The facial expression reminded me of a raccoon. Upon referring 
to the “ Quadrupeds of America” I found it to be an animal of 
which it was the sole representative both in genus and species, 
for it proved to be the Bassaris astuta, the generic name being 
derived from a word signifying a little fox and the specific name 
having reference to its manners and habits. It is described as 
an inhabitant of Mexico and Western Texas, was originally 
found in the vicinity of the City of Mexico and referred to by 
the old Spaniard Hernandez. It was first brought to the atten- 
tion of naturalists by Mr. Deppe who, in 1826, sent a specimen 
to Berlin from Western Texas. The first scientific description 
was by Lichenstein, who named it as above. It is carnivorous, 
subsisting on small animals, birds and insects. Red river, in 
Texas, is given as its extreme northern geographical limit, and it 
is an interesting fact in natural history to find such an extreme 
Southern species existing in full size and vigor in this so much 
more northern latitude, so far from what has been considered its 
native habitat. It suggests some interesting questions. Is it 
an accidental wanderer from its far-off home? This can hardly 
be, for, although probably full grown, its teeth indicate it as a 
young animal ; and the great distance to be travelled from Texas 
to Central Ohio, and the time necessarily consumed in the journey, 
as well as the obstacles of great rivers to be crossed, are against 
the theory of a single and chance migration from its original 
locality. Have we here, then, another example of the wonderful 
Power of nature which enables the animal “in the struggle for life” 
to. adapt itself to the varying conditions and circumstances with 
Which it is surrounded? For our specimen is thickly clothed with 
fur, while its progenitors, like most other warm climate species, 
were probably thinly covered with hair, and this fact is against 
my recent migration, for surely more than one season would be 
required to convert a simply haired, into a fur-bearing ani- 
mal. I conclude our specimen was native born in the locality 
. te it was found, and if others of its species in Mexico and 
: ®Xas are without fur, our animal is a descendant from those which, 
a a apa, through many generations, have been gradually fitted 
-m esidence in a more northern climate. 
The little animal of which I have been speaking measured thirty- 
