NASUA. POTOS. 499 
tipped with pale yellowish; inner surface of ears, light facial mark- 
ings, sides of neck and shoulders, and proximal two-thirds of fore 
limbs white; flanks and ventral surface brighter than back; dark 
facial markings pale chocolate brown; tail pale brownish yellow; 
feet dark brown.” 
Measurements. Total length, 1200; tail vertebra, 515 (flat skin). 
One species and eight subspecies of the next rather aberrant genus 
are known. Unlike its relatives of the previous genera, the Kinkajou 
has a prehensile tail, which it can coil round a branch and render its 
position in a tree most secure. With its hind feet itis very dexterous, 
and can with them easily place food in its mouth; and although there 
are no opposable thumbs on the hands, and its fingers are webbed for 
almost their entire length, these peculiarities offer no obstacles for 
the expert use of these members. It is a rather small animal, the 
body being only about a foot and a half in length, head broad and 
round, limbs short, and the tail long. It walks with the soles of both 
hands and feet upon the ground, but the heels are raised. It is 
arboreal, a facile climber, and when descending a tree or branch 
comes as often head first as in any other manner. It is fond of 
insects, which it draws from their retreats with its long and flexible 
tongue, and is very fond of the honey of the wild bee. Nocturnal in 
habits, it avoids the light, and is rarely seen by day, but becomes very 
active at nightfall. It has a gentle disposition, and is easily tamed, 
although in the wild state it is said to be fierce enough. Two of the 
subspecies only are found within the limits embraced in this work. 
95. Potos. Kinkajous. 
i C=; ihe M.— = 36. 
Oldfield Thomas. On the Geographical Races of the Kinkajou. 
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 7th Ser., 1x, 1902, p. 265. 
Potos Cuv. & Geoff., Meth. Mamm., in Mag. Ency., 1, 1795, p. 
187. Type Viverra caudivolvula Schreber. 
Cercoleptes Illiger, Prodr. Syst. Mamm. et Av., 1811, p. 127. 
Skull short, upper surface flat; molars have crowns flat, tubercles 
slight; tongue long, extensile; ears and limbs short; body long; tail 
long, tapering, prehensile. 
BEY TO THE SUBSPECIES. 
A. Tail long, prehensile. PAGE 
Beco aipale, erayish yellow... <... 66.01. us ee P.}. aztecus 500 
b. Color brownish yellow and black. ...... P. f. chiriquensis 501 
