42 
CARNIVORES. 
feet. The name of black-footed raccoon has, accordingly, been proposed for this 
southern form. These raccoons are very common in certain districts, and appear 
to agree closely in habits with their northern cousin. 
The Cacomistles. 
Genus Bass'aris, 
The cacomistles, of which the skull is shown on p. 35, are animals nearly 
allied to the raccoons, but of more slender build, with a sharper muzzle, longer tail, 
less perfectly plantigrade feet, and teeth of a more typically carnivorous type. 
The common cacomistle (Bcissaris astuta), represented in the accompanying 
illustration, is an inhabitant of the United States and Mexico. It is covered with 
the cacomistle (i iiat. size). 
long and soft fur; and has also well-developed and pointed ears, of which the outer 
surfaces are nearly naked. The feet have naked pads, but are otherwise hairy; 
and their short claws are partially retractile. In size this animal may be compared 
to a cat, the length of the head and body being about 17| inches, and that of the 
tail (including the hair at the end) nearly the same. The general colour is 
brownish-yellow mixed with grey on the upper-parts, and whitish below; but the 
tips of the ears, and two pieces of spots above and below the eyes, are yellowish-white. 
The bushy tail, which differs from that of the raccoons in being depressed instead 
of cylindrical, has a black tip and seven or eight blackish-brown rings, separated 
by white intervals. 
This animal dwells among rocks and trees; and although, on account of its 
purely nocturnal habits, but seldom seen, is far from uncommon in certain 
localities. Like the raccoons it is easily tamed, and makes a pretty pet, being 
sometimes kept for the purpose of killing rats and mice. It is, however, for its 
size, a bold and ferocious animal, and is reported to be very destructive to poultry. 
Cacomistles prefer woods well supplied with water, and make their nests in 
