Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 431 



It appeared chiefly fond of plantains, and would follow those who fed 

 and nursed it like a dog. When incensed it growled like a puppy, 

 but when in pain or tired of walking it would raise its voice to a 

 harsh grating tone. They seldom lose, even when domesticated, 

 their depredatory habits, and those Indians who raise them for the 

 sake of procuring a cross breed with the dog, are obliged to keep 

 them tied, as otherwise they would kill all the fowls and parrots*. 

 It is called by the Macusis Maikang, in Warrau Warityou. 



The variety which has sprung from the breed between the Indian 

 domestic dog and the Carasissi more resembles the dog, its body is 

 however longer in proportion to its size, and its ears are pricked up. 

 Their progeny become prolific. They are hardy, and many of them 

 prove excellent hunters ; they are therefore very much prized by the 

 Indians, who pay great attention to their training. f 



These extensive savannahs are likewise the favourite haunt of the 

 Brown Coati (Nasua fused) of the colonists, or Quasy and Kibihi of 

 the natives of Guiana. They measure about 18 inches, and the tail, 

 which is nearly the same length, is always carried erect. It is brown, 

 brightening to a rust colour on the belly and breast; the tail brown, 

 with rings of black ; the snout long and moveable ; the canine teeth 

 strong and hooked ; legs short, the hind a little longer than the fore 

 ones ; the feet long ; it walks always upon its heels like the bears, 

 frequently standing upon its hind legs. 



They live in large societies, and know how to defend themselves 

 bravely if attacked by dogs ; indeed they fall often en masse upon 

 them and kill the assailants. They are excellent climbers ; and in 



• The Carasissi is Desmarest's Canis cancrivorus, of which he gives the 

 following description, communicated to me since writing the above by Mr. 

 Waterhouse : 



Canis cancrivorus, Desmarest. 



" Pelage cendre et varie de noir en dessus, parties inferieures d'un blanc- 



jaunatre; oreilles brunes ; cotes du cou derriere les oreilles, fauves ; tarses 



et bout de la queue noiratres. 



Pieds. Pouces. 



Longueur du corps 2 4 



Longueur de la queue 11 



II fait sa proie des Agoutis et des Paca, &c. et il mange aussi des fruits, tels 

 que ceux du bois rouge. II va par petites troupes de dix ou sept individues. 



Patrie. La Guyane Francaise." 



f A good dog of that description which is trained to hunt deer, tapir, wild 

 ho^s, paca orlaba, &c. generally fetches a price of from ten to twelve pounds 

 sterling : the dogs imported from Europe suffer much from the effects of the 

 climate, and some kinds, as greyhounds, foxhounds, spaniels, pointers, 

 cockerels, &c. seldom thrive. Terriers and bull-dogs appear to accustom 

 themselves earlier to the climate. 



