xiii AELURUS AND AELUROPUS 431 



mobile proboscis, hence its name. The native Mexican name for 

 the creature is " Quanhpecotl." 



The Coati is largely arboreal, and hunts iguanas in large 

 bands, some of them being on the trees and some on the ground 

 beneath. It also grubs up worms and larvae, for which purpose 

 its long snout is suited. The molars of the genus resemble 

 those of Procyon. 



There is not a median groove upon the nose. The palms 

 and soles are naked. Six teats occur. There are thirteen dorsal 

 vertebrae. Nasua nasica l and JV. rufa are the best known and 

 perhaps the only species. The colour of the fur varies a good 

 deal, and has led to the use of other names for supposed species. 



Aelurus, the Panda, is a largish animal found in the south- 

 eastern Himalayas up to a height of 12,000 feet. It has a 

 glossy fur of a reddish colour, and a "white somewhat cat-like 

 face." The molar formula which distinguishes it from the New- 

 World Arctoids belonging to the Procyonidae, as well as from 

 its possible ally Aeluropus, is Pm % M |-. The anatomy of the 

 animal has been described by Sir W. Flower. 2 Dr. Mivart has 

 pointed out that the muzzle though short is upturned in a way 

 distinctly recalling that of Nasua. The animal inhabits forests, 

 and feeds almost entirely upon vegetable food. It eats eggs, 

 however, and insects. Though living to a great extent upon 

 the ground, it is also arboreal, and has sharp semi-retractile claws. 

 It is said to be dull of sight, hearing, and smell, and yet with 

 these disadvantages is also unprovided with cunning or ferocity. 

 Its habits have been compared with those of a Kinkajou. 



Fossil Procyonidae. In addition to several of the existing 

 genera, the remains are known of various extinct forms of Pro- 

 cyonidae. Leptarctus, with one species, L. primaevus, is of Plio- 

 cene age, but is known only by one ramus of the lower jaw. It 

 appears to " offer a number of transitional characters between 

 the more typical Procyonidae and the aberrant Cercoleptes." 3 



Fam. 7. Mustelidae. Contrary to what has been stated with 

 regard to the habits of the Procyonidae, the Mustelidae are for 

 the most part "bloodthirsty robbers," and are spread over the 



1 " Narica " is generally written, after Linnaeus. But this was, according to 

 Mr. Alston, probably an error for nasica. 



2 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 752. 



3 See Wortman, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist, vi. 1894, p. 229. 



