CERCOLEPTES.—MUSTELA. 17 
Duefias?, Lanquin (Godman & Salvin, Mus. Brit.) ; Costa Rica (Frantzius), Tucur- 
rique (Areé, Mus. Brit.).—Soutn America to the Rio Negro and Peru. 
The Kinkajou is a native of the northern part of the Neotropical Region, finding its 
southern boundary on the Rio Negro of Brazil, according to Humboldt, and in the northern 
provinces of Peru, where it was obtained by Tschudi. In Central America it appears to 
be found from the Central States of Mexico southwards. Messrs. Godman and Salvin 
remark that, “although by no means rare in Guatemala, the Micoleon is not often 
seen. One we met with was feeding on fruit in a tree overhanging the river of 
Lanquin in Vera Paz, and, being wounded, swam the stream without difficulty, but was 
secured by an Indian who plunged in in pursuit. It is an animal easily tamed, living 
in captivity on oranges and bananas, which it eats with great avidity. Our specimens 
were obtained at,various altitudes up to 4000 or 5000 feet.” 
~ Two centuries ago the Kinkajou was similarly tamed in Central America, as appears 
from Dampier’s quaint account of the “Squash,” which he thus describes :—‘ The 
Squash is a four-footed Beast, bigger than a Cat: Its Head is much like a Foxes, with 
short Ears and a long Nose. It has pretty short Legs, and sharp Claws, by which it 
will run up Trees like a Cat. The Skin is covered with short fine yellowish Hair. 
The Flesh of it is good, sweet, wholesome meat. We commonly skin and roast it ; 
and then we call it Pig; and I think it eats as well. It feeds on nothing but good 
Fruit; therefore we find them most among the Sapadillo-Trees; This Creature never 
rambles very far: and being taken young, will become as tame as a Dog, and be as 
roguish as a Monkey ” *. 
In Costa Rica, where it is termed Martilla or Little Marten, Dr. v. Frantzius tells us 
that the Kinkajou is not uncommonly to be found in holes in trees, where it lies 
concealed during the day, issuing forth at night in pursuit of small mammals and 
birds. Its fur is much valued; and skins are often brought to market, but always in 
an imperfect state °. 
Fam. IV. MUSTELIDE. 
1. MUSTELA. 
Mustela, Linnzeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 66 (1776). 
In America the restricted genus Mustela is essentially a Nearctic type ; but one species, 
at least, ranges far into the southern continent. The characters of the genus are too 
well known to require repetition; and it will be sufficient here to state my reasons for 
retaining the Linnean name for the present group, instead of Putorius, which is most 
in favour with American writers. The latter word is not used by Cuvier binomially, 
but merely to mark a sous-genre*; and Nilsson, who appears to have been the first 
* Dampier’s ‘ Voyages,’ ii. p. 59. tT ‘Reégne Animal,’ i. p. 147 (1817). 
