THE KINKAJOU, OR POTTO. 419 
tinted more or less with chesnut, and occasionally being so pale as to be of a warm fawn 
colour. The under surface of the body and the internal face of the limbs are of a grey 
hue, tinged with yellow or orange, according to the individual, and extending, in some 
cases, to the sides of the neck and the lower jaw. The coat of the Narica is rather thick, 
and the texture of the fur is harsh; it does not lie closely to the body, but presents a 
rather shaggy and rough aspect. 
THE singular creature which is known under the title of Kinkasou, or Porto, has 
been the means of perplexing systematic naturalists in their laudable attempts to place 
each animal in its proper position. 
On account of its external aspect and its general habits, it has been considered as one 
of the Lemurine family, and was termed in consequence the Yellow Macauco, or the 
Yellow Lemur (Lemur flavus). As, however, the structure of its teeth and limbs is 
entirely different from that of the lemurs, and very closely approaches the carnivorous type, 
it has been placed among the flesh-eating animals, under the name of Mexican Weasel 
(Viverra caudivolvula). But the flat surfaces of its under teeth, and its curiously prehensile 
KINKAJOU, OR POTTO.—Cercoleptes caudivolvulus. 
tail, are characteristics of sufficient importance to remove it from the pure carnivora, and 
place it among the animals which are capable of eating both animal and vegetable food, 
so that it has at present found a resting-place at the end of the ursine animals. 
It is an inhabitant of Southern America, and is spread over a very large extent of 
country, so that it is known in different places under different appellations, such as 
Honey Bear, Manaviri, or Guchumbi. When full grown, the Kinkajou is equal to a large 
cat in size, but is very much stronger in proportion to the dimensions of its body. The 
colour of the animal is a very light dun, obscurely traversed by narrow darker bands, that 
run over the back towards the ribs, and partly follow their course. Another darker band 
is observable round the neck, but all these marks are so very indistinct, that they can only 
be seen in a favourable light. 
The most remarkable point in this animal is the extreme length and flexibility of the 
tongue, which the creature is able to protrude to a marvellous extent, and which it can 
insinuate into the smallest crevices in search of the insects which have taken shelter 
therein. It is said that the animal employs its long tongue for the purpose of thrusting 
that organ into the bee-cells, and licking out the sweet contents of the waxen treasury. 
With its tongue it can perform many of the offices of an elephant’s trunk, and will 
: EE 2 
