CARNIVORA. 217 



omnivorous, feeding greedily on bird's eggs, which 

 they find in trees, and no less pleased with earth 

 worms, rooted up with the snout ; they descend 

 from trees head foremost, by turning the hind feet 

 outwards. The Coatis have a strong disagreeable 

 smell. 



Nasua soclalis of the Prince of "Wied, includes 

 both the following, 



Nas. rufa. Rufous Coati. Somewhat less in 

 size than a domestic cat ; almost entirely bright ru- 

 fous; the muzzle greyish-black, with three white 

 spots about each eye, but no white streak down the 

 nose ; ears and lower part of limbs black ; tail with 

 eight or ten dark brown spots, lips, chin, and throat, 

 white. They live in the deepest forests of Brazil, 

 forming small troops or families, from six to eighteen; 

 and, in danger, caution each other by a shrill warn- 

 .ing pipe. 



Nas. fusca. Brown Coati. This species is pro- 

 perly the Quasji of the Dutch ; in Guiana, the word 

 more properly pronounced quastje, denoting a droll 

 fellow, a pantomime, clown, which, in truth, is not 

 inapplicable to the ludicrously meddling, active, 

 climbing, inquisitive character of the animal, when 

 in captivity. In size* the brown is equal to the 

 former, but the fur on the superior parts of the body 

 is deep brown, dun, grey, or even orange yellow ; 

 below orange grey ; there are three white spots 

 round each eye, and a white streak passes down the 

 forehead ; the nape grey ; the extremity of the feet 



