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 nasicat and N. 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 Aecluropus, is Pm? MZ. The anatomy of the 
animal has been described by Sir W. Flower. Dr. Mivart has 
pointed out that the muzzle though short is upturned in a way 
distinetly recalling that of Maswa. 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.—lIn 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.” * 
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. 
