54 Quadrupeds. 



in this position, with both paws carries its food to its 

 mouth. Even in a state of tameness, it will pursue 

 poultry, and destroy every living thing that it has 

 strength to conquer. "When it sleeps it rolls itself into 

 a ball, and remains immovable for fifteen hours to- 

 gether. Its eyes are small, but full of life ; and, when 

 domesticated, it is very playful and amusing. A great 

 peculiarity belonging to this animal is the length of its 

 snout, which is movable in every direction. The ears 

 are round, and like those of a rat; the fore feet have 

 five toes each. The hair on the back is short and rough 

 and of a blackish hue ; the tail marked with rings of 

 black, like the wild cat ; the rest of the body is a mix- 

 ture of black and red. This animal is very apt to eat 

 its own tail, which is very long ; but this strange appe- 

 tite is not peculiar to the Coati alone ; the mococo and 

 some of the monkey tribe do the same, and seem to feel 

 no pain in wounding a part of the body so remote from 

 the centre of circulation. 





THE CIVET, (Viverra Civetta,) 



Is found in Northern Africa and Guinea, and is famous 

 for producing the perfume called civet. He is kept for 



