AGRICULTURAL NATURE STUDY OUTLINES 
79 
ears, and is buffy brown above and dull white below. Usually seen flying 
about in the air at twilight on summer evenings, but sometimes hanging 
head downward in the daytime in old buildings. Feeds on boring beetles, 
Jerusalem crickets, tomato worm moths, and other injurious insects: wholly 
beneficial. 
California Valley Coyote ( Canis ocliropus). —About 45 inches long; above 
mixed with buffy and black; below whitish tinged with buff; long nose; 
sharp, pointed ears; bushy tail. Usually seen loping across open fields, but 
most often recognized by its peculiar bark heard at night. Feeds on small 
mammals such as rabbits, squirrels and gophers, and on insects; more rarely 
on carrion; destructive to sheep and poultry but often a valuable ally in 
holding rodent pests in check; dangerous as a carrier of rabies. 
Kit Fox ( Vulpes macrotis). —About 37 inches long; grayish buff with buffy 
breast and front legs, and buffy white underparts; tip of bushy tail chest¬ 
nut. Seldom seen, as it prowls about only at night. This is the fox of the 
open country. Feeds largely on small rodents. 
California Coon ( Procyon psora). —Total length about 33 inches; general 
coloration grayish; a broad black band across each side of the face taking 
in the eyes; tail brownish with five to seven rings of dusky or black; tip 
pf tail black. Seldom seen except at night or when trapped; characteristic 
tracks often to be noted along streams or about tule patches. Food includes 
mice, small birds, insects, frogs, fish, and fruit; sometimes destructive to 
poultry. 
Spotted Skunk ( Spilogale phenax). —About 15 inches long; black with four 
parallel white stripes on back; these stripes often broken up into spots; a 
white spot on forehead; terminal third of tail white. Hides in daytime, 
but is often seen moving about at night; sometimes called hydrophobia 
skunk. Feeds on mice, birds, eggs, insects, and grubs; often destructive 
to poultry. 
California Badger ( Taxidea neglecta). —About 29 inches long; stout; grayish 
tinged with brown; a narrow white stripe over head and down back; nose, 
sides of face and patch in front of ear black; foreclaws long and only 
slightly curved. Usually seen seated in front of burrow or digging. Food 
is composed largely of small rodents; beneficial to agriculture. 
California Wild Cat ( Lynx calif ornicus) .—About 32 inches long; above, 
grayish spotted with brown or black; tail short, black-tipped, and with 
black bars; tufts on ears. Occasionally seen in wooded and brushy areas in 
the daytime, but hunts largely at night. Feeds on small mammals and birds 
and on poultry. 
White-footed Mouse or Deer Mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus) .— About 6 inches 
long; ears large; feet white; grayish brown above, white below; tail blackish 
above.- Usually seen in brushy areas; often lives in nests of the wood rat; 
seldom feeds during daylight. Food is made up of Vegetable material, mostly 
seeds, stems, and leaves of plants. 
Wood Rat or Trade Rat ( Neotoma fuscipes). —About 15 inches long; tail long; 
large ears; above grayish brown, below grayish white; fore feet and toes 
of hind feet, white; tail blackish. Usually seen in brushy areas in close 
proximity to the large cone-shaped piles of sticks which serve as a nest; 
sometimes seen in trees. The food is varied, but made up largely of vege¬ 
table material such as seeds, stems, and leaves of plants. 
