THE CO AXIS 631 



being depressed instead of cylindrical, has a black tip and seven ^of eight blackish- 

 brown rings, separated by white intervals. 



This animal dwells among rocks and trees ; and although, on account of its 

 purely nocturnal habits, but seldom seen, is far from uncommon in certain localities. 

 Like the raccoons it is easily tamed and makes a pretty pet, being sometimes kept 

 for the purpose of killing rats and mice. It is, however, for its size, a bold and 

 ferocious animal, and is reported to be very destructive to poultry. Cacomixles 

 prefer woods well supplied with water, and make their nests in the holes of trees. 

 The natives are in the habit of finding out whether such a hole is tenanted by a 

 cacomixle, by noting if the bark surrounding the aperture has been removed; this 

 removal of the bark being an invariable custom of the animal. From three to four 

 young are produced at a birth. B. astuta is in the habit of carrying its tail bent 

 back over its back. The only other species is Sumichrast's cacomixle (JB. sumich- 

 rasti] from Central America. 



Another raccoon-like type of animal has been named Bassaricyon, and is at 

 present known to science only by a single skull from Costa Rica, and a skin from 

 Ecuador. These animals, which are probably extremely rare, have the same num- 

 ber of teeth as the raccoons, but approximate so closely in appearance to the under- 

 mentioned kinkajou, that they are probably often mistaken for it by collectors. 

 Mr. O. Thomas considers that the resemblance of the two animals is a case of true 

 mimicry, although he is unable to imagine of what advantage it can be for the 

 bassaricyon to be mistaken for a kinkajou. 



THK COATIS 

 Genns Nasua 



The coatis, or, as they are often called, coatimundis, are easily recognized by 

 the great length of their snouts, on which account they are called by the Germans 

 Russelbaren (proboscis-bears). They have the same number of teeth as the rac- 

 coons, but the tusks, or canines, are longer and more flattened ; while, in conform- 

 ity with the length of the snout, the skull is relatively longer and narrower. 



The snout, which is naked at the tip, is somewhat upturned, and projects far 

 beyond the extremity of the lower jaw ; it is capable of a considerable amount of 

 motion. The body is long, and rather flattened, and the tapering tail is also 

 elongated and of considerable depth. The toes are more closely connected together 

 than in the raccoons, and are provided with longer and stouter claws. There are two 

 species of coatis. One of these, the white-nosed coati {Nasua nasica), inhabits 

 Mexico and Central America. It is characterized by the white nose and upper lip, 

 the dark brown face and cheeks, and the length and softness of its fur. In color 

 the long hairs of the back are tipped with either rufous, fulvous, or whitish ; and 

 the tail is frequently of the same color as the back, though it may have dark and 

 light rings on the under side of the basal half, or, complete rings. 



The second species is the red coati (IV. rufa), inhabiting South America from 

 Surinam to Paraguay. In this species the fur is generally short and harsh, with 



