216 ORDER V. 



The Potos inhabit tropical America, and are the 

 size of a domestic cat; nocturnal; in confinement 

 gentle, sit on their hams, and use the fore paws like 

 squirrels ; with the tail they can draw to them a 

 weight nearly equal to themselves, it is doubtful 

 whether there be more than one species; Mr. 

 Martin, however, by recent comparisons, establishes 

 two. 



Cer. megalotus. Long-eared Poto. With ears 

 narrow, elongated, rounded at tip ; general colour 

 deep reddish- yellow, with an obscure band of darker 

 colour, almost chestnut along the head, spine, and 

 tail ; sides pale, but throat and abdomen nearly as 

 dark as the back ; and similarly marked with a 

 band from breast to croup ; tail slender ; hair very 

 rigid. 



Cer. Brachyotus. Broad-eared Poto. Fur full, 

 soft, moderately long, entirely glossy yellowish-grey, 

 clouded with brown, especially over the nose ; top of 

 the head, back, and abdomen, dusky straw colour ; 

 ears broad, short, and rounded. 



Genus NASUA. The Coatis. Are a kind of mi- 

 niature long -tailed bears, of South America, with the 

 nose in form of a snout, much elongated and singu- 

 larly moveable. Their semi-palmated feet have five 

 toes, and are armed with powerful claws, which 

 serve both for digging and for climbing. Dentition 

 , \-\, t"f = 40. Tail long, bushy, not prehensile; 

 body lengthened. The species are nocturnal, active, 



Le dessous des pattes, qui est sans poil et couleur de chair 

 vermeille. Buff. Hist, du Glouton. 



