314 CARNIVORA. 



When wild it resembles the racoon in its habits, and climbs trees 

 with great agility, descending head foremost. It is a nocturnal animal, 

 and a merciless robber of birds' nests. In captivity it is a very amusing 

 and lively creature, very inquisitive and distrustful. One which was in 

 confinement for some time was very tame to its friends, but any stranger 

 who ventured to approach the animal was repelled with open mouth and 

 threatening cries, unless he propitiated the creature by offering it some 

 delicacy of which it was fond. It would then lay aside its suspicious 

 demeanor, and become suddenly confidential, returning the caresses of 

 its newly-found friend, and searching eagerly for a further supply of 

 food. It proved to be quite a useful inhabitant of the house when it was 

 domesticated, for it was accustomed to roam over the premises in chase 

 of mice and rats, which it pursued unrelentingly through house, hay-loft, 

 and stables. It was also accustomed to pay visits into the garden, where 

 it spent much of its time in catching snails and slugs, and in digging 

 after worms — a task for which its powerful claws are eminently calcu- 

 lated to adapt it. When it was supplied with meat, it was accustomed 

 to tear its food to pieces with its claws before carrying it to the mouth ; 

 and in the act of feeding, it always supplied itself by hitching one of its 

 claws in the morsel which it was about to carry to its mouth. It struck 

 up a friendship with a little dog, and would permit its four-footed friend 

 to occupy the same bed, but would never endure the societ}' of any other 

 animal. When attacked by men or dogs, the Coaiti fights desperately, 

 inflicting dangerous wounds with its double-edged teeth. 



The Red Coati, Nasua riifa, differs from the preceding species in its 

 color, which is of a reddish-chestnut tinge, interrupted only by black ears 

 and feet, and maroon-colored bands on the tail. 



The White Co.\ti, Nasua Icucorhynclia, is somewhat lighter colored, 

 having a good deal of fawn color; the snout is yellowish-white. 



We need not mention other species ; the " Social " and " Solitary " 

 Nasua2 of the Prince of Wied, are identical, the latter being old males 

 which have been expelled from the troop. 



III.— GENUS CERCOLEPTES. 



This genus contains one species of small animals with a long prehen- 

 sile tail, short toes, and claws more or less retractile. It has caused sys- 

 tematic naturalists great perplexity. At first it was put down as a 



