and compressed, with an
alisphenoid canal, a short facial portion, and the ascending branch of
the lower jaw, as in _Aeluropus_, very tall. Face cat-like, with
moderate, erect, pointed ears. Claws blunt. Tail cylindrical and
ringed. Fur long and thick. Extra radial carpal bone moderate. The
panda is a bright golden red animal, with black under-parts, ranging
from the eastern Himalaya to north-western China, where it is
represented by a distinct race. Fossil species occur in the later
Tertiary deposits of Europe (see PANDA).

The raccoons (_Procyon_) are the first and typical representatives of
the American section of the family, in which an alisphenoid canal is
always wanting. In this genus the dentition is i. 3/3, c. 1/1, p. 4/4,
m. 2/2; total 40; the upper molars being broad and tuberculated; the
upper sectorial (like that of _Aeluropus_ and _Aelurus_) having three
outer cusps and a broad bicuspid inner lobe, giving an almost quadrate
form to the crown. First upper molar with a large tuberculated crown,
rather broader than long; second considerably smaller, with
transversely oblong crown. Lower sectorial (first molar) with an
extremely small and ill-defined blade, placed transversely in front,
and a large inner tubercle and heel; second molar as long as the
first, but narrower behind, with five obtuse cusps. Vertebrae: C. 7,
D. 14, L. 6, S. 3, Ca. 16-20. Body stout. Head broad behind, but with
a pointed muzzle. In walking the entire sole not applied to the
ground, as it is when the animal is standing. Toes, especially of the
fore-foot, very free, and capable of being spread wide apart; claws
compressed, curved and pointed. Tail moderately long, cylindrical,
thickly covered with hair, ringed, non-prehensile. Fur long, thick and
soft. The common raccoon (_Procyon lotor_) of North America is the
type of this genus; it is replaced in South America by _P.
cancrivorus_ (see RACCOON). The cacomistles (_Bassariscus_) are nearly
allied to _Procyon_, but of more slender and elegant proportions, with
sharper nose, longer tail, and more digitigrade feet, and teeth
smaller and more sharply cusped. The typical _B. astuta_ is from the
southern parts of the United States and Mexico, while _B. (Wagneria)
annulata_ is Mexican and Central American.

The name _Bassaricyon_ has been given to a distinct modification of
the procyonine type of which at present two speci